Ci (poetry)

{{Short description|Chinese lyrical poetic genre}} {{Italic title}} {{infobox Chinese |title=''Cí'' |t=詞 |s=词 |w=tzʻŭ2 |p=cí |gr=tsyh |mi={{IPAc-cmn|c|^|2}} |h=ci2 |j=ci4 |y=chìh |ci={{IPAc-yue|c|i|4}} |poj=sû |buc=sṳ̀ }} '''''{{tlit|zh|Cí}}''''' (pronounced {{IPAc-cmn|c|^|2}}; {{lang-zh|t=詞}}), also known as '''''{{tlit|zh|chángduǎnjù}}''''' ({{lang-zh|t=長短句|s=长短句|l=lines of irregular lengths|first=t}}) and '''''{{tlit|zh|shīyú}}''''' ({{lang-zh|t=詩餘|s=诗馀|l=the poetry besides Shi|first=t|labels=no}}), is a type of lyric poetry in the tradition of Classical Chinese poetry that also draws upon folk traditions. {{tlit|zh|Cí}}, also known as "song lyrics,<ref>{{Cite web |title=To the tune "Immortal by the River"—Returning at Night to Linggao {{!}} Global Medieval Sourcebook |url=https://sourcebook.stanford.edu/text/tune-%E2%80%9Cimmortal-river%E2%80%9D%E2%80%94returning-night-linggao |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=sourcebook.stanford.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ridgway |first=Benjamin |date=2012 |title=From the Banquet to the Border: The Transformation of Su Shi's Song Lyrics into a Poetry of National Loss in the Restoration Era |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43490145 |journal=Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews |volume=34 |pages=57–103 |issn=0161-9705}}</ref>" use various poetic meters derived from a base set of fixed pattern forms, using fixed-rhythm, fixed-tone, and line-lengths varying according that of the model examples. The rhythmic and tonal pattern of the {{tlit|zh|cí}} are based upon certain, definitive musical song tunes (cí pái), and in many cases the name of the musical tune is given in the title of a {{tlit|zh|cí}} piece, in a form such as "after (the tune of)...."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fuller |first=Michael A. |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvrs8z9r |title=An Introduction to Chinese Poetry: From the Canon of Poetry to the Lyrics of the Song Dynasty |date=2017 |publisher=Harvard University Asia Center |isbn=978-0-674-97701-3 |edition=1 |volume=408}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mazo |first=Ramón Lay |title=A SUCCINT EXPLANATION OF CI LYRIC POETRY |url=http://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/20025/1118 |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=www.icm.gov.mo}}</ref>

Typically, the number of characters in each line and the arrangement of tones were determined by one of around 800 set patterns, each associated with a particular title, called {{tlit|zh|cípái}} ({{lang|zh|詞牌}}). Originally, they were written to be sung to a tune of that title, with a set rhythm, rhyme, and tempo. Therefore, the title may have nothing to do with its content. Indeed, several {{tlit|zh|cí}} often shared the same title. The titles did not refer to the content, but rather their shared rhythmic and tonal patterns. Some {{tlit|zh|cí}} have a "subtitle" or a commentary, sometimes as long as a paragraph, indicating the content. Sometimes, for the sake of clarity, a {{tlit|zh|cí}} is listed under its title, followed by its first line.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fuller |first=Michael A. |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1dnnbb6 |title=Drifting among Rivers and Lakes: Southern Song Dynasty Poetry and the Problem of Literary History |date=2013 |publisher=Harvard University Asia Center |isbn=978-0-674-07322-7 |edition=1 |volume=86}}</ref>

==History== [[File:Cave 76, detail.jpg|thumb|Kizil Caves, Cave 76, detail, 7th century, Kucha, depicting a type of musician influential to development of {{tlit|zh|cípái}}]] [[File:Wen Tingyun.jpg|thumb|Wen Tingyun, Late Tang dynasty {{tlit|zh|cí}} poet (among other things), from a much later time (1921)]] Although the oldest surviving textual examples of {{tlit|zh|cí}} are from 8th century CE Dunhuang manuscripts,<ref>Hans Frankel, 216</ref> beginning in the poetry of the Liang dynasty, the {{tlit|zh|cí}} followed the tradition of the {{tlit|zh|Shi Jing}} and the {{tlit|zh|yuefu}}: they were lyrics which developed from anonymous popular songs into a sophisticated literary genre. In the case of the {{tlit|zh|cí}} form, some of its fixed-rhythm patterns have been influenced by music and poetry of Central Asia and elsewhere.

The {{tlit|zh|cí}} form developed during the late Tang dynasty. Although the contributions of Li Bai (701–762) are fraught with historical doubt, certainly the Tang poet Wen Tingyun (812–870) was a great master of the {{tlit|zh|cí}}, writing it in its distinct and mature form.<ref>A. R. Davis, lxvii</ref> One of the more notable practitioners and developers of this form was Li Yu of the Southern Tang dynasty, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, subsequent to Tang. Before the {{tlit|zh|cí}} form was formalized by the scholarly, it's antecedents had grown up in a setting of popular music. Serindian influences were particularly important in this regard; with the influence of Kucha drum dance tunes being the most important.<ref>Edward S. Schafer 1963, 52</ref> Much of the process of importing Serindian influence into Classical Chinese poetry was mediated through the short-lived state of Western Liang (555–587). Western Liang was basically a city-state centered on the city known in Tang times as Liangzhou. In Western Liang a musical hybrid of Chinese and Kuchean traditions developed, and became popularized throughout the Tang culture, from the people to even the emperor Xuanzong (reigned 713–756).<ref>Edward S. Schafer 1963, 52</ref> This was part of a larger movement: "...of all the specialists of ambiguous social status who were sent to China by a foreign government, the most popular and influential were the musicians―instrumentalists, singers, and dancers―and the instruments and musical modes that they brought with them....For many centuries, the music of the West had had its admirers in China, but under the Sui {{bracket|581–618}} emperors there was a great vogue for it, which continued into T'ang times."<ref>Edward S. Schafer 1963, 50–51</ref> Foreign music (in terms of performers, instruments, musical modes, and songs) was brought to China, often as a result of wars of conquest or as a type of "tribute" and this music found a place in informal settings at the imperial court to other less reputable settings.<ref>Edward S. Schafer 1963, 50–51</ref> ''Ci'' poetry largely developed during the late Tang from the music made in popular settings such as houses of pleasure and from the inclusion of romantic and erotic themes of late Tang poets such as Li Shangyin.<ref>A. C. Graham 1977, 141–142</ref><ref>David Hinton 2008, 308</ref>

However, the{{tlit|zh|cí}} form of Classical Chinese poetry is especially associated with the poetry of the Song dynasty, during which it was indeed a popular poetic form. A revival of the {{tlit|zh|cí}} poetry form occurred during the end of the Ming dynasty and the beginning of the Qing dynasty which was characterized by an exploration of the emotions connected with romantic love together with its secularization, often in a context of a brief poetic story narrative within a {{tlit|zh|cí}} poem or a linked group of {{tlit|zh|cí}} poems in an application of the {{tlit|zh|chuanqi}} form of short story tales to poetry.<ref>Zhang, 76–80</ref>

==Classification== === Song === During the Song dynasty (960–1279), two main categories of {{tlit|zh|cí}} employed were {{tlit|zh|xiǎolìng}} ({{lang|zh|小令}}; the original form since pre-Song) and {{tlit|zh|màncí}} ({{lang|zh|慢詞}}; starting with Liu Yong), depending on the song being either short and in fast tempo or long and in slow tempo. Most {{tlit|zh|xiǎolìng}} were written in the pre-Song era.

=== Ming and Qing === Later, during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties, the {{tlit|zh|cí}}, or rather the {{tlit|zh|cípái}}, became classified for the number of characters it dictates. It is called

# {{tlit|zh|xiǎolìng}} {{lang|zh|小令}} if it is no more than 58 characters, # {{tlit|zh|zhōngdiào}} {{lang|zh|中調}} for 59–90 characters, and # {{tlit|zh|chángdiào}} {{lang|zh|長調}} for over 90 characters.

If the {{tlit|zh|cí}} appears in one stanza, it is called {{zhp|p=dāndiào|c=單調}}. The largest majority is {{zhp|p=shuāngdiào|c=雙調}} with two stanzas or {{zhp|p=què|c=闋}} in identical or nearly identical patterns. There also are rare cases of {{zhp|p=sāndié|c=三疊}} and {{zhp|p=sìdié|c=四疊}}, for three and four {{tlit|zh|qüè}}, respectively. In terms of style, {{tlit|zh|cí}} can also be classified as either {{zhp|p=wǎnyuē|c=婉約|tr=grace}} or {{zhp|p=háofàng|c=豪放|tr=bold}}.

== Formation == There are four main tones in Mandarin Chinese, though a fifth ("neutral") tone may be considered.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chinesepod.com/tools/pronunciation/section/17|title=Chinese Pronunciation – Tones|website=chinesepod.com|access-date=2018-11-20}}</ref> The tonal systems of past centuries were different. The term "tonal contour" is used to indicate that these tones are not tones in the sense of absolute musical pitches, but rather in terms of the overall relative "shape" of the tones as spoken or chanted.

The four tones of Middle Chinese were first described by Shen Yue around AD 500. They were the "level" ({{zhi|c={{linktext|平}}|p=píng}}), "rising" ({{zhi|c=上|p=shǎng}}), "departing" ({{zhi|c=去|p=qù}}), and "entering" ({{zhi|c=入|p=rù}}) tones. The level is classified as {{zhi|c=平|p=píng}}; all three other tones (rising, departing and entering) are classified as oblique {{zhi|c={{linktext|仄}}|p=zè}}. So, in any cipai, the formation of Ci, each Chinese character in Ci will be required in detailed tones with {{zhi|c={{linktext|平仄}}|p=píngzè}}, shown using {{lang|zh|平}} and {{lang|zh|仄}}.

==Cipai== {{main|Cipai}} Cipai ({{lang-zh|s=词牌}}), also called Cige and Cidiao, is the name of various formations of Ci. Most {{tlit|zh|cípái}} consist of three characters. The literal meaning of a {{tlit|zh|cípái}} can be rather obscure, making it difficult to translate. Some are taken straight from earlier poems, and some are clearly of Non-Han origin—mostly songs introduced from Central Asia. Some {{tlit|zh|cípái}} have alternative names, usually taken from a famous piece of that very {{tlit|zh|cípái}}. There also are variants of certain {{tlit|zh|cípái}}, indicated by a prefix or a suffix. The formations of Ci are complicated, in different names of {{tlit|zh|cípái}}, the number of characters, syntactical structure, tones and rhyme are also different.

Cipai developed from the musical culture of the Tang dynasty and became closely associated with the rise of ci poetry. Early ci were written as song lyrics to existing melodies, and the names of these melodies gradually became fixed as cipai.

As the melodies themselves gradually disappeared from common use, the cipai remained as formal poetic patterns. Later poets continued to write ci according to inherited cipai, even when the original music was no longer known.

For example, choosing the {{tlit|zh|cípái}} {{zhp|p=Jiang Chengzi|tr=Riverside City|c=江城子}}, the tone requirements of each character in this cipai is following:

:{{lang|zh|仄平平仄仄平平。}} :{{lang|zh|仄平平，仄平平。}} :{{lang|zh|仄仄平平，仄仄仄平平。}} :{{lang|zh|仄仄平平平仄仄，}} :{{lang|zh|平仄仄，仄平平。}}

:{{lang|zh|平平仄仄仄平平。}} :{{lang|zh|仄平平，仄平平。}} :{{lang|zh|仄仄平平，仄仄仄平平。}} :{{lang|zh|仄仄平平平仄仄，}} :{{lang|zh|平仄仄，仄平平。}}

The following is a {{tlit|zh|cí}} poem based on Jiang Chengzi. {{verse transliteration-translation |lang=zh

|originalHeading = Original Chinese |十年生死兩茫茫，不思量，自難忘。千里孤墳，無處話淒涼。縱使相逢應不識，塵滿面，鬢如霜。

夜來幽夢忽還鄉，小軒窗，正梳妝。相顧無言，唯有淚千行。料得年年斷腸處，明月夜，短松岡。

|transliterationHeading =Pinyin |Shí nián shēng sǐ liǎng máng máng bù sī liáng, zì nán wàng. Qiānlǐ gū fén, wú chù huà qī liáng. Zòng shǐ xiāng féng yìng bù shí, chén mǎn miàn, bìn rú shuāng.

Yè lái yōu mèng hū huán xiāng, xiǎo xuān chuāng, zhèng shū zhuāng. Xiāng gù wúyán, wéi yǒu lèi qiān xíng. Liào dé nián nián duàn cháng chù, míng yuè yè, duǎn sōnggāng.

|translationHeading = English translation |Ten boundless years now separate the living and the dead. I have not often thought of her, but neither can I forget. Her lonely grave is a thousand ''li'' distant, I can't say where my wife lies cold. We could not recognise each other even if we met again, My face is all but covered with dust, my temples glazed with frost.

In deepest night, a sudden dream returns me to my homeland. She sits before a little window, and sorts her dress and make-up. We look at each other without a word, a thousand lines of tears. Must it be that every year I'll think of that heart-breaking place, Where the moon shines brightly in the night, and bare pines guard the tomb. }} Su Shi, {{lang|zh|蘇軾,《江城子·十年生死兩茫茫》}}

In the title of this ''cí'', {{zhp|p=Jiang Chengzi|tr=Riverside City|c=江城子}} is the name of {{tlit|zh|cípái}}. Su Shi was married when he was 19, and his wife was 16. His wife died when she was only 27. Because of his government duties, Su Shi moved to many different places in China, all far away from his hometown. One night in early 1075, about 10 years after her death, Su Shi dreamed of his wife, then composed this famous ''cí''.

==Famous ''cí'' poets== ===Tang, Five Dynasties, Ten Kingdoms=== * Wen Tingyun (812–870) * Wei Zhuang (836–910) * Li Cunxu (885–926) * Gu Xiong (fl. 928) * Lu Qianyi (fl. 931) * Yan Xuan (fl. 932) * Mao Xizhen (fl. 947) * Xue Zhaoyun (10th century) * Sun Guangxian (d. 968) * Li Yu (937–978)

===Song=== * Liu Yong (987–1053) * Ouyang Xiu (1007–1072) * Su Shi (1037–1101) * Song Ci (1186–1249) * Huang Tingjian (1045–1105) * Qin Guan (1049–1100) * Zhou Bangyan (1056–1121) * Li Qingzhao (1081–1149?) * Lu You (1125–1209) * Xin Qiji (1140–1207) * Jiang Kui (1155–1221) * Wang Yisun (1240?–1290?) * Fan Zhongyan (989-1052)

===Post-Song=== * Gao Bing (1350–1423) * Qian Qianyi (1582–1664) * Wu Weiye (1609–1671) * Gong Dingzi (1615–1673) * Chen Weisong (陈维崧 1626–1682) * Zhu Yizun (1629–1709) * Nalan Xingde (1655–1685) * Mao Zedong (1893–1976)

== Further reading == Fuller, Michael A. (2018-02-12). ''An Introduction to Chinese Poetry: From the Canon of Poetry to the Lyrics of the Song Dynasty''. Harvard East Asian Monographs. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-674-97701-3}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fuller |first=Michael A. |url=https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674977013 |title=An Introduction to Chinese Poetry: From the Canon of Poetry to the Lyrics of the Song Dynasty |date=2018-02-12 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-97701-3 |series=Harvard East Asian Monographs |location=Cambridge, MA}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== References == * Davis, A. R. (Albert Richard), Editor and Introduction,(1970), ''The Penguin Book of Chinese Verse''. (Baltimore: Penguin Books). * Graham, A. C. (1977). Poems of the Late T'ang. New York, New York: The New York Review of Books. {{ISBN|978-1-59017-257-5}} * Hinton, David (2008). ''Classical Chinese Poetry: An Anthology''. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. {{ISBN|978-0-374-10536-5}} * Frankel, Hans H. (1978). ''The Flowering Plum and the Palace Lady''. (New Haven and London: Yale University Press) {{ISBN|0-300-02242-5}} * Schafer, Edward H. (1963) ''The Golden Peaches of Samarkand''. Berkeley: University of California Press. {{ISBN|978-0-520-05462-2}}. * Sun Chang, Kang-i. ''The evolution of Chinese tz'u poetry from late T'ang to Northern Sung''. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1980. * Wagner, Marsha ''The lotus boat: origins of Chinese tz'u poetry in T'ang popular culture'' (New York: Columbia University Press, 1984). * Zhang, Hongsheng (2002). "Gong Dingzi and the Courtesan Gu Mei: Their Romance and the Revival of the Song Lyric in the Ming-Qing Transition", in ''Hsiang Lectures on Chinese Poetry, Volume 2'', Grace S. Fong, editor. (Montreal: Center for East Asian Research, McGill University).

Category:Chinese poetry forms