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The Works of Li Qingzhao, Ci Poems 3.41 - 3.48
The sixth instalment of Li Qingzhao’s ci poetry. This 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 3.41 through 3.48, inclusive.
How to Read Chinese Poetry has three chapters on the ci forms Li Qingzhao uses here:
Recall from the introduction that everything after 3.35 is relatively likely to be misattributed. This is especially true after 3.45: these may be written deliberately 'in Li Qingzhao's style'.
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How to Read Chinese Poetry has three chapters on the ci forms Li Qingzhao uses here:
Chapter 12, Ci Poetry: Short Song Lyrics (Xiaoling)
Chapter 13, Ci Poetry: Long Song Lyrics (Manci)
Chapter 14, Ci Poetry: Long Song Lyrics on Objects (Yongwu Ci)
Recall from the introduction that everything after 3.35 is relatively likely to be misattributed. This is especially true after 3.45: these may be written deliberately 'in Li Qingzhao's style'.
If you’d like to be added to the reminder email list, let me know the address you wish to be contacted via. (You can also unsubscribe from the reminders at any time simply by replying ‘unsubscribe’.)
3.45
看看臘盡春回。
信息到
江南早梅。
昨夜前村深雪裏 一朵花開。
盈盈玉蕊如裁。
更風清 细香暗來。
空使行人腸欲斷
駐馬徘徊。
To the tune “The Spring Scene is Fine”
Look to see how spring returns after the twelfth month: its first messenger appears, the Southland’s early plum.
Last night in the village amid heavy snow in the village, a single bud first opened.
How delicate—the jade petals look cut by scissors.
What’s more, borne by clear breezes,
its subtle fragrance silently arrives.
To no end it nearly breaks the hearts of passersby who halt their horses and linger there.
Re: 3.45
“Last night in the village amid heavy snow in the village,” copy edit error, or choice?
“To no end it nearly breaks” kind of strange phrasing
Re: 3.45
Note that though the translator has chosen to write it as "breaks the hearts," in the original it's breaking the intestines.