A glance at The Works of Li Qingzhao

Reading through the preview of the book and one of the poem “乌江” , thus had this piece of words.

The book :

The Works of Li Qingzhao

Translated by Ronald Egan
Volume edited by Anna M. Shields

A quick review of the preview of the book , basically it is the background of Li Qingzhao, which is essential for classic literature per the classic Chinese literacy review method: 知人论世, This is from 孟子, which is still works today. 钱钟书has argued this by a joke: if you ate a delicious egg, no bother to know the hen. While I do not think that is the case, especially for classic literature.

Mrs. Li was known by her delicacy and subtle , mainly on love and daily life. mostly happiness life in early days , followed 2nd half of life  is more of bitterness. The turning point is 渡江-crossing Yangtze river and her husband death. If that is conclusion, it is a bit too easy. The key to interpret the turning point is the poem 夏日绝句 or 乌江 in the book. I had a video on this one as well.

夏日绝句sounds like an oath,  or even a curse, with the most strong voice and masculine,  not like other of Li Qingzhao ,not like of a female, not like a Chinese, as indirect  expression is fundamental in Chinese classic literature, the more important , the more  key issues, the more indirect the expression should be.

For the part of 知人论世, the Song GOV was retreating to south at the moment, the elite of Song dynasty like Mrs. Li  and her family feels bitterness as well as patriotic. Her husband Mr. Zhao was governing 建康 city (Nangjing city today) to serve the gov. Anyhow, Mr.s Zhao fled upon a riot, without doing any of his duty. 

Mrs. Li fled with her husband as well, with embarrassment, and more fury I think, wrote the masterpiece 夏日绝句, an utmost blaming to his beloved husband.A second review of the poem, it is like to saying: why not you go to death , like the great hero Xiang Yu. This kind of poem could  never be wrote , it is by the heaven’是will and via Mrs. Li’s hand(

A quick review of the preview of the book , basically it is the background of Li Qingzhao, which is essential for classic literature per the classic Chinese literacy review method: 知人论世, This is from 孟子, which is still works today. 钱钟书has argued this by a joke: if you ate a delicious egg, no bother to know the hen. While I do not think that is the case, especially for classic literature.

Mrs. Li was known by her delicacy and subtle , mainly on love and daily life. mostly happiness life in early days , followed 2nd half of life  is more of bitterness. The turning point is 渡江-crossing Yangtze river and her husband death. If that is the conclusion, it is a bit too easy. The key to interpret the turning point is the poem 夏日绝句 or 乌江 in the book. I had a video on this one as well.

夏日绝句sounds like an oath,  or even a curse, with the most strong voice and masculine wording,  not like other of Li Qingzhao ,not like of a female, not like a Chinese, as indirect  expression is fundamental in Chinese classic literature, the more important , the most  key issues, the more indirect the expression should be.

For the part of 知人论世, the Song GOV was retreating to south at the moment, the elite of Song dynasty like Mrs. Li  and her family feels bitterness as well as patriotic. Her husband Mr. Zhao was governing 建康 city (Nangjing city today) to serve the gov. Anyhow, Mr.s Zhao fled upon a riot, without doing any of his duty. 

Mrs. Li fled with her husband as well, with embarrassment, shame, and more of  fury I think, wrote the masterpiece 夏日绝句, an utmost blaming to his beloved husband.A second review of the poem, it is like to saying: why not you go to death , like the great hero Xiang Yu. This kind of poem could  never be wrote , it is by the heaven’s will and via Mrs. Li’s hand(妙笔天成).

Very obviously, Mrs. Li ‘s love to her husband  changed significantly afterwards. Her second marriage could be the reflection of this change over. For an elite woman in Song dynasty,  marriage again is  far from normal, especially she is not for money, neither love.

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