Sung Dynasty Literature
Sung dynasty is much weaker than the previous ones,with no more expansion.It is divided into 2 sub-periods:Northern Sung (960-1127 AD) & Southern Sung (1127-1279 AD) with constant attacks from the barbaric tribes of Central Asia in league often with ambitious Sung officials.Because of the variety of suspense & intrigue in politics, they become folk stories & are passed down from generations to generations, that are the source for the setting of Chinese movies,tv serials,& operatic drama.The famous impartial judge Justice Pao/Bao lived during the Northern Sung period & his adventures have survived for ages till now to be celebrated by people.
--Northern Sung existed with the Liao dynasty of the fierce alien Khitans,who threatened China's borders.The invasions of the Liao dynasty crumbled the Northern Sung dynasty,as it took over the northern part of China,forcing the emperor to retreat to the South,establishing Southern Sung dynasty.
--Eventually,Liao dynasty was crushed by the alien Jurchens,who formed the Jin dynasty in the North
--Meanwhile,Southern Sung existed along side with the Jurchens & the state of Hsi-Hsia of the alien Tanguts in the west,who were eyeing Chinese territories.The division of China into 3 separate kingdoms
weakened China & Chinese authority.Later the Mongols came & conquered all 3 kingdoms to form the Yuan dynasty.
Sung Literature
--a new form of poetry called 'chih',created during the 10 Kingdoms & 5 Dynasties, became the prime
form of poetry used & further developed in the Sung dynasty
--the form of Tang poetry or 'shih' remained being created though not as extensive as before.
--Sung prose inhereited the Tang remains & became more radical than ever
--leading prose writers are the '8 Great Intellects of the Tang-Sung period' : the first 2 are Han Yu & Liu Zhong Yuan (Tang) & the remaining 6 are : Ouyang Hsiu (politician/1021-1086), Wang An Shih (most important N.Sung politician who created the 'New Laws'/'Hsin Fa',Zeng Kong & the 3 Su brothers: Su Hsun.Su Shi & Su Che.
--The presence of 6 Sung writers showed the significant achievements of Sung prose
--Sung drama at its beginnings
--the creation of records of stories that are told through story-telling,providing information for future
novels & drama
Sung Poetry (Sung chih)
--'chih' is a new form of poetry that has a score with its own particular music,& can be sang like a song,
other than being recited
Northern Sung:
--Style is generally woeful & over-indulgent in emotions until Su Shi added vibrance & energy
--Representative poets:
a.Liu Yong : popular romantic who tends to be over-emotional,whose works are often very melodic
b.Su Shi :also known as Su Tung-po,a very important poet whose versatility is seen in his style
which vary with different content suitably,often creative,majestic,clear,masculine & expressive.The
following is an example of his classic poetry that is still made popular by pop music & remains widely
recited especially during the Mid Autumm Festival
'Song by the River' ('Thinking of You') {'Shui Tiao Ge Tou'}
'When will the moon be clear and bright?
With a cup of wine in my hand, I ask the blue sky
I don't know what season it would be
In the heavens on this night
I'd like to ride the wind to fly home
Yet I fear the crystal and jade mansions are much too high and cold for me
Dancing with my moon-lit shadow
It does not seem like the human world
The moon rounds the red mansion
Stoops to silk-pad doors
Shines upon the sleepless
Bearing no grudge
Why does the moon tend to be full when people are apart?
People may have sorrow or joy, be near or far apart
The moon may be dim or bright, wax or wane
This has been going on since the beginning of time
May we all be blessed with longevity
Though far apart, we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.'
- Poem written during the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival of 1076 by Su Tung Po
(Translated by Shun-Yi Lee in 1998)
Southern Sung:
--Style is initially a continuation of Su Shi's but the chaotic situation led to a reversion to the N.Sung way of sorrow & extravagance with emphasis on rhyme & rhythm which is uncalled for,hence showing the artificiality.
--
Representative poets:
a.Li Ching-chao : a female poet who exploits imaginery to the maximum,emotional & feminine.
b.Xin Chi Ji : warrior poet who is more like Su Shi in style,patriotic & is the poet with the most works preserved (600 poems)
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