Song Ci
The lyrical revolution — Song dynasty ci poetry and its musical, emotional power
5 articles
Su Shi: The Renaissance Man of Chinese Literature
Poet, painter, calligrapher, statesman, chef, and philosopher — Su Shi is China's most beloved literary genius and the master of Song ci.
What Is Song Ci? A Guide to China's Other Great Poetry Tradition
If Tang poetry is China's classical symphony, Song ci is its jazz — flexible, emotional, and deeply personal.
Li Qingzhao: The Greatest Female Poet in Chinese History
Bold, brilliant, and heartbreaking — Li Qingzhao's poetry of love and loss set the standard for emotional expression in Chinese literature.
Song Ci: The Lyrics That Broke Poetry's Rules
When Tang Dynasty regulated verse became too rigid, Song Dynasty poets invented a new form — ci, lyrics written to music.
Xin Qiji: The Warrior Poet Who Never Got His War
Xin Qiji was a soldier who wanted to reconquer the north, a patriot whose government wouldn't let him fight, and a poet who turned frustration into some...