Significance and contents
Although the Quan Tangshi (QTS) is the largest compilation of Tang poems,it is neither completely reliable nor complete. The work was done in some haste,and the editors did not justify or even indicate their own choices of texts or variant readings (other than perhaps by a first choice and list of variants:definitely weak by modern academic standards). Many additional poems and variant texts were discovered in the early 20th century in the cave library at Dunhuang,for instance,and the compilers ignored or could not find others. In the case of some major poets,there were better texts in individually edited volumes. Many are listed in Tang dynasty catalogs but did not survive the destruction of the imperial libraries.
The poems are arranged in sections,for instance,those by emperors or consorts and 乐府Yuefu (Music Bureau-style poems). Seven hundred and fifty-four sections,the largest number of sections,are arranged by author (with brief biography). Others are arranged by form or subject,such as women (five sections),monks,priests,spirits,ghosts,dreams,prophecy,proverbs,mystery,rumor,and drinking.
Chinese poetry is poetry written, spoken, or chanted in the Chinese language. While this last term comprises Classical Chinese, Standard Chinese, Mandarin Chinese, Yue Chinese, and other historical and vernacular forms of the language, its poetry generally falls into one of two primary types, Classical Chinese poetry and Modern Chinese poetry.
Classical Chinese poetry is traditional Chinese poetry written in Classical Chinese and typified by certain traditional forms, or modes; traditional genres; and connections with particular historical periods, such as the poetry of the Tang Dynasty. The existence of classical Chinese poetry is documented at least as early as the publication of the Classic of Poetry,. Various combinations of forms and genres have developed over the ages. Many or most of these poetic forms were developed by the end of the Tang Dynasty, in 907 CE.
Cáo Xuěqín ; was a Chinese writer during the Qing dynasty. He is best known as the author of Dream of the Red Chamber, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. His given name was Cáo Zhān (曹霑) and his courtesy name was Mèngruǎn.
The Three Hundred Tang Poems is an anthology of poems from the Chinese Tang dynasty (618–907). It was first compiled around 1763 by Sun Zhu (1722–1778), who was a Qing Dynasty scholar and was also known as Hengtang Tuishi. Various later editions also exist. All editions contain slightly more than 300 total poems. The number 300 was a classic number for a poetry collection due to the influence of the Classic of Poetry, which was generally known as The Three Hundred Poems.
Consort Xu (徐惠妃) was a concubine of Later Shu's emperor Meng Chang during imperial China's Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. More commonly known as Madame Huarui (花蕊夫人), she was also a notable poet.
Mo Xuanqing born in Zhaoqing, modern Guangdong, was the youngest Zhuangyuan in the imperial examinations during the Tang Dynasty, in Chinese history. He was known as a talented person from the age of 12. In 851, at the age of 17, he was also the first youngest Zhuangyuan in the imperial examination in Chinese history since the Sui Dynasty and the first Zhuangyuan in Lingnan.
Tang poetry refers to poetry written in or around the time of or in the characteristic style of China's Tang dynasty, and/or follows a certain style, often considered as the Golden Age of Chinese poetry. The Quantangshi includes over 48,900 poems written by over 2,200 authors. During the Tang dynasty, poetry continued to be an important part of social life at all levels of society. Scholars were required to master poetry for the civil service exams, but the art was theoretically available to everyone. This led to a large record of poetry and poets, a partial record of which survives today. The two most famous poets of the period were Li Bai and Du Fu. Tang poetry has had an ongoing influence on world literature in modern times.
Liu Changqing, courtesy name Wenfang (文房) was a Chinese poet and politician during the Tang dynasty. Eleven of his poems were collected in the popular anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems.
Du Xunhe, Courtesy name Yanzhi (彥之), Art name Jiuhua Shanren (九華山人) was a Chinese poet of the late Tang dynasty, with one of his poems being included in the anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems. Along with Nie Yizhong, Luo Yin, and Pi Rixiu, he was one of the key figures of the late Tang realist movement of Chinese poetry.
Wei Yingwu , courtesy name Yibo(義博), art name Xizhai(西齋) was a Chinese poet of the Tang dynasty. Twelve of Wei's poems were included in the influential Three Hundred Tang Poems anthology. He was also known by his honorific name Wei Suzhou(韋蘇州); his service as the governor of Suzhou earned him the name.
Lu Lun was a Chinese poet of the Middle Tang Dynasty, with six of his poems being included in the famous anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems, as well as being mentioned in one poem, by Sikong Shu, which was translated by Witter Bynner as "When Lu Lun My Cousin Comes For The Night". His courtesy name is Yun Yan.
Gao Bing, was a Chinese poetry anthologist and writer. A native of Fuzhou, he flourished during the newly established Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) as an author and poetry theorist. Gao Bing collected and arranged Tang poetry-era poems and wrote commentary material upon them in a work published as the Graded Compendium of Tang Poetry, a seminal work using prosodic principles in a systematic method to classify poetry by Classical Chinese poetry forms. It contained 5,769 poems by 620 poets, along with notes and commentary. The Tangshi Pinhui aimed in part to correct what Gao Bing saw as lacking in previous works, particularly those of Song critic Yan Yu and Yuan critic Yang Shihong. Other works would later build upon the Tangshi Pinhui system which would later greatly influence the perception of Chinese poetry: in part because of Gao Bing's explicit nine-rank grading system, by which he evaluated the works of poets such as Du Fu, Li Bai, and Wang Wei.
Yu Wuling (810–?) was a Chinese poet of the late Tang dynasty. His birth name was Yu Ye; Wuling was his courtesy name.
Zhang Hu was a Chinese poet of the mid-Tang dynasty. His courtesy name was Chengji.
Han Hong was a Chinese poet of the mid-Tang period. His courtesy name was Junping.
Zu Yong (699–746?) was a Chinese poet of the High Tang period. His courtesy name is unknown.
Yuan Jie (719/723–772) was a Chinese poet and man of letters of the mid-Tang period. His courtesy name was Cishan, and he had several art names.
Dai Shulun was a Chinese poet of the mid-Tang period.
Han Wo was a Chinese poet of the late Tang dynasty and Min dynasty. His courtesy name was Zhiyao, or possibly Zhiguang or Zhiyuan, and his art name was Yushan-Qiaoren. He was a native of Jingzhao, in or near the capital Chang'an. An anthology of his poems, the Xianglian Ji survives.
