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

Re: 3.6 咏白菊 On the White Chrysanthemum

[superborb]

I was wondering if I was reading this poem as sharp critique because of the previous sections where she's critiquing people directly, but Baike agrees that she is expressing contempt of vulgarity.

Also an expression of how LQZ feels that a poem must have allusion to have deeper meanings. I guess with the footnotes and Baike gloss the references are there, but it's not quite as expressive as it could be otherwise.