The Works of Li Qingzhao, Ci Poems 3.1 - 3.8

[x_los]

This week we start working with Li Qingzhao’s ci poetry. As usual, the book is 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). We're reading the poems 3.1 through 3.8 inclusive.

This collection uses footnotes and endnotes to explicate the work. There are three endnotes for this week’s group of poems, but these aren’t very rich in exegesis.

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

Comments

3.1

[x_los]

南歌子

天上星河轉
人間簾幕垂。
涼生枕簟淚痕滋。
起解羅衣 聊問夜何其。
翠貼蓮蓬小
金銷藕葉稀。
舊時天氣舊時衣。
只有情懷 不似舊家時。

To the tune “Southern Song”

The River of Stars pivots in the sky,
blinds and curtains hang down in the mortal world. Pillow and mat are chilly, the tear stains still moist.
I arise and untie my silken robe
to ask about the progress of the night.
Turquoise stitching on lotus pods is fine,
gold outline on lotus leaves is delicate. 
The weather is of years gone by, even the clothes of years gone by.
It’s just that my feelings
do not resemble those of years gone by back home.

Re: 3.1

[x_los]

“blinds and curtains hang down in the mortal world.” Is this—seasons change, it’s winter now?

“Turquoise stitching on lotus pods is fine,
gold outline on lotus leaves is delicate.” Is this a description of how these things look in nature? (Rather than some practice of stitching on the pods or gilding the leaves.)

Mm the ending of this does hit

Re: 3.1

[pengwern]

the screens are lowered as it’s the night time, and the diancui (featherwork) making the lotus pods and gold embroidered lotus leaves on the rich garment have turned small and become loosened as the years weather the clothes worn when her finances were good and when the country had not fallen to invaders...so much trauma like most of the song poets ;-;
oh wow her life is so sad ;^;
天上星河轉
人間簾幕垂。is such a gorgeous thing to say though

Re: 3.1

[douqi]

The 'everything is the same except the things that matter' bit at the end is a recurring motif (see in particular 3.42).

Re: 3.1

[superborb]

Baike's gloss on the first bit is that it means it's deep in the night.

Baike's gloss on the stitching and outline indicates that these are crafts for decoration of apparel.

In the discussion section, Baike notes that 'the weather of old and the clothing of old' is a colloquial saying about how only experiencing the ups and downs of life leads you to understand those emotions.