The Works of Li Qingzhao, Prose 2.1 through 2.5

[x_los]

After a delay in which I came down with various interesting illnesses, we return to The Works of Li Qingzhao, freely available via De Gruyter's Library of Chinese Humanities in Mandarin and English and via several publication formats, including two open access options (the pdf appears to be better formatted than the ebook). This week we're reading the prose chapter: 2.1 through 2.5, inclusive.

This collection uses footnotes and end notes to explicate the work. A few of this week's poems have footnotes, so look out for that.

CLP has an episode on Li Qingzhao you might find relevant.

Comments

2.5 祭趙湖州文(斷句) Eulogy for Zhao, Governor of Huzhou (fragment)

[x_los]

祭趙湖州文(斷句)

白日正中，嘆龐翁之機捷
堅城自墮，憐杞婦之悲深。

Eulogy for Zhao, Governor of Huzhou (fragment)

...
The bright sun was just at its noontime height, we admire Pangweng’s wit and quickness;
The sturdy city wall abruptly collapsed, we pity Woman Qi for the depth of her grief.

Re: 2.5 祭趙湖州文(斷句) Eulogy for Zhao, Governor of Huzhou (fragment)

[x_los]

“Here, that praise is transferred to Pangyun (i.e., Zhao Mingcheng) himself.” She’s probably not simply misremembering this story, so this is a very odd, gendered transference

Re: 2.5 祭趙湖州文(斷句) Eulogy for Zhao, Governor of Huzhou (fragment)

[superborb]

Does every line really have to be an allusion, bc that's... a lot...