JustaSong

The "Song Lyric," or ci, is a beloved form of Chinese poetry that evolved from an impromptu performance practice to a full literary genre from the early eleventh century to the first quarter of the twelfth century. Although the majority of the authors were male, young women singers, whether indentured or private entrepreneurs, played a crucial role in song practice during this period. A unique gender dynamic emerged, as men frequently adopted a female voice and used it to tap into an imagined emotional space, only to claim it for themselves later on.

To establish itself as a legitimate genre of literature, a history was constructed for song lyric. Correlatively, the genre also developed a new and distinct set of aesthetic values, designed to sharply differentiate itself from traditional "Classical Poetry," or shi. In a world that prioritized pragmatism or moral lessons, song lyric provided a discourse of sensibility, lending a beautiful voice to everything that seemed to be disappearing in the new Song dynasty's era of public advancement and righteousness.

作者简介

StephenOwenisJamesBryantConantUniversityProfessor,Emeritus,atHarvardUniversity.