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: 3.2

[pengwern]

waking the fire to divide the tea is just describing parts of the tea ceremony which the Song had the wherewithal to luxuriate in (before the whole national trauma ofc)
the jade hook is the crescent moon, the gold lock is on the door (they like pairing jade and gold)
her verses are so pretty....aaa

Re: 3.2

[x_los]

Oh huh, I listened through https://teacup.media/teahistorypodcast and that part didn't come up in the Song section, which had me wondering what role it played.