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[personal profile] x_los posting in [community profile] dankodes
The seventh 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 3.49 through 3.56, inclusive.

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'. 

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Date: 2022-04-17 09:20 pm (UTC)

Re: 3.49

superborb: (Default)
From: [personal profile] superborb
The dragon nectar incense shows up in the dictionary as ambergris.

I wonder if it's to say that there's other flowers worthy of praise?
Date: 2022-04-17 10:52 pm (UTC)

Re: 3.50

superborb: (Default)
From: [personal profile] superborb
The word that is translated to persisting is 'forever, always, persisting.' Baike's gloss says that it's because it's divided evenly between the two at the autumn equinox.

Yes, Baike says the hatpins and tablets are used by the officials.

Baike says the pine trees are green year round, making it a suitable birthday wish.
Date: 2022-04-17 11:06 pm (UTC)

Re: 3.51

superborb: (Default)
From: [personal profile] superborb
The Baike (HK) exegesis compares the sweat to the dewdrops on a flower, and says the plum bit is her looking for an excuse to sneak a look at the person coming in.
Date: 2022-04-19 10:02 pm (UTC)

Re: 3.51

douqi: (Default)
From: [personal profile] douqi
A related concept/term: perfumed sweat.

Sweat not disgusting if it comes from an attractive woman, I guess.
Date: 2022-04-17 11:26 pm (UTC)

Re: 3.52

superborb: (Default)
From: [personal profile] superborb
Baike (HK) says the caltrop mirror is a copper mirror from ancient times that either had a fancy shape, or with a decorative engraving on the back.

The tune name doesn't really affect the meaning of the song, right? It's the same tune as 3.33 and has a few names. This one might be directly translated as 'shameful slave'.
Date: 2022-04-17 11:42 pm (UTC)

Re: 3.53

superborb: (Default)
From: [personal profile] superborb
(Baike notes that this was only attributed to LQZ in the Qing dynasty; from the Song to Ming, most thought it was written by Ouyang Xiu.)

Painted loft is glossed as gorgeous pavilion/building.

Baike explains that the incense must be tapped clean to avoid breaking the path of the fire.

There's several videos on youtube if you search for 'seal incense'.
Date: 2022-04-17 11:47 pm (UTC)

Re: 3.54

superborb: (Default)
From: [personal profile] superborb
Unfortunately, searching for 連壺 (joined wine vessels) turns up some literally joined wine vessels from the Neolithic era, which is... way too ancient. No Baike for the poem either.
Date: 2022-04-17 11:49 pm (UTC)

Re: 3.55

superborb: (Default)
From: [personal profile] superborb
Oh I quite liked that line! Though the 'is so far' bit is editorializing, it's implied in the poem.
Edited Date: 2022-04-17 11:50 pm (UTC)
Date: 2022-04-17 11:54 pm (UTC)

Re: 3.56

superborb: (Default)
From: [personal profile] superborb
"Yellow plum season drizzle" turns up a description that it is the period of continuous rainy weather in the middle/lower parts of the Yangtze from mid-June to mid-July (when the plums are ripe).

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