Summary
This anthology, compiled by Qing-dynasty scholar Sun Zhu around 1763, presents 311 poems by 77 poets from the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE), organized by poetic form (e.g., five-character regulated verse, seven-character quatrains). Its central thesis is that Tang poetry represents the pinnacle of Chinese classical verse, embodying a fusion of technical mastery, emotional depth, and philosophical reflection. The collection prioritizes poems that are accessible yet profound, often focusing on themes of nature, friendship, separation, war, and the passage of time.
A reader takes away a concrete understanding of Tang poetic conventions—such as strict tonal patterns, parallelism, and allusive imagery—alongside the cultural values of the era, including Confucian duty, Daoist detachment, and Buddhist impermanence. Key takeaways include the importance of "suggestiveness" (含蓄) over direct statement, and the use of natural scenes to evoke human emotions. The anthology remains a foundational text for Chinese literary education and a window into Tang society’s aesthetic and moral sensibilities.
Key concepts
- Regulated verse (lüshi) — A strict eight-line poem form with five or seven characters per line, requiring tonal parallelism and a fixed rhyme scheme.
- Quatrain (jueju) — A four-line poem form, often concise and suggestive, used for spontaneous impressions or philosophical insights.
- Parallel couplets — Paired lines in regulated verse where each word corresponds in grammatical function and tone, creating balanced imagery.
- Allusion (diangu) — References to historical events, legends, or earlier texts, used to layer meaning without explicit explanation.
- Nature as emotion — A Tang poetic device where landscapes (e.g., autumn leaves, flowing rivers) directly mirror or contrast the speaker’s inner state.
- Separation poetry — A recurring subgenre expressing grief over parting from friends or family, often set against vast natural backdrops.
From the book
Hummel An-tsung Chien Huang-ti Anfiyanggû → 3633234 Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period , Volume 1 — An-tsung Chien Huang-ti Arthur W. Hummel Layout 2 AN -tsung Chien Huang-ti, temple and posthumous names of Chu Yu-sung [ q. v. ].← Ch'i Chün-tsao Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period , Volume 1 edited by Arthur W. Hummel Ch'i Piao-chia by Earl Swisher Ch'i-shan → 3635429 Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period , Volume 1 — Ch'i Piao-chia Arthur W. Hummel Earl Swisher Layout 2 CH'I Piao-chia 祁彪佳 ( T. 幼文, 宏吉, H. 世培, 虎子), 1602–1645, July 26, Ming official, was a native of Shan-yin (Shaohsing), Chekiang. His father, Ch'i Ch'êng-yeh 祁承㸁 ( T. 爾光, H. 曠翁, chin-shih of 1604), was a well-known bibliophile, who possessed a large collection housed in his library, Tan-shêng t'ang 澹生堂 (see also under…
Hummel Ch'u-ying Ch'ü Shih-ssŭ → 3637542 Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period , Volume 1 — Ch'u-ying Arthur W. Hummel Layout 2 CH'U -ying. See under Cuyen .← Ch'ên Hung-shou Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period , Volume 1 edited by Arthur W. Hummel Ch'ên Kung-yin by Tu Lien-chê Ch'ên Kuo-jui → 3633524 Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period , Volume 1 — Ch'ên Kung-yin Arthur W. Hummel Tu Lien-chê Layout 2 CH'ÊN Kung-yin 陳恭尹 ( T. 元孝, H. 半峯, 獨漉山人, 羅浮布衣), Oct. 20, 1631–1700, May 30, poet and calligrapher, was a native of Shun-tê, Kwangtung. His father, Ch'ên Pang-yen 陳邦彥 ( T. 會份(斌), H. 巖野, 1603–1647), served under the Ming Prince of Kuei (see under Chu Yu-lang ), and co-operated with Ch'ên Tzŭ-chuang [ q. v. ] in fighting the invading Manchu forces under Li Ch'êng-tung [ q. v. ], who had…
Hummel Ch'êng 誠, Prince Ch'êng Ta-wei → 3634154 Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period , Volume 1 — Ch'êng 誠, Prince Arthur W. Hummel Layout 2 CH'ÊNG 誠, Prince. See under Yin-chih .← Chang Hui-yen Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period , Volume 1 edited by Arthur W. Hummel Chang Jan by Fang Chao-ying Chang Kuang-ssŭ → 3633277 Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period , Volume 1 — Chang Jan Arthur W. Hummel Fang Chao-ying Layout 2 CHANG Jan 張然 ( T. 陶庵) 17th century, a native of Hsiu-shui, Chekiang, was the second son of Chang Lien [ q. v. ]. Adept at drawing and having learned landscape architecture from his father, he went to Peking and there constructed for Fêng P'u [ q. v. ] the garden known as Wan-liu-t'ang 萬柳堂, and for Wang Hsi [ q. v. ] the I-yüan 怡園, both famous private gardens much…
Popular questions readers ask
- Given the title "Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period (1644-1912)," compiled by Arthur W. Hummel and published by the U.S. Government Printing Office in 1943, what does this combination of historical period, selective term ("Eminent"), compiler, and publisher imply about the *intended purpose* and *likely perspective* of this compilation?
- Imagine explaining the fundamental utility of this list to someone unfamiliar with Chinese history. What essential information is this text designed to convey, and what immediate, basic understanding can a user derive solely from scanning these names and titles?
- Based purely on the names and titles provided (e.g., emperors, princes, names with varying structures), what can you infer about the *criteria* that might have defined "eminence" during the Ch'ing period according to the compilers, and what does this suggest about the values or interests being highlighted?
- The text provides only names and their Chinese characters. If a student were to use this resource as a starting point for research, what crucial *next steps* would they need to take to move from merely identifying a name to deeply understanding that individual's significance within the Ch'ing period?
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