| Yishan Ci-poetry represents the greatest achievement of Ci-poetry in Jin and Yuan Dynasties. Since the 20th century, Ci-poetry scholars have made relatively objective studies and evaluations of Yishan Ci-poetry from the perspectives of ideological contents, artistic style, Ci- poetics and the historical position. As master of Ci- poetry of Jin and Yuan Dynasties, Yishan plays a decisive and important role in the communication and exchange among the Ci-poetry of Song, Jin and Yuan Dynasties and therefore occupies an indispensable place in the history of Ci-poetry. When he discusses Ci-poetry, Yishan praises Su Shi and Xin Qiji, emphasizes emotions and feelings, ennobles nature, lays great importance on implicitness and subtlety and his Ci-poetry tends to express his ideas and emotions in a natural way and he succeeds in suiting both refined and popular tastes. Ci-poetry in Jin and Yuan Dynasties like to follow the steps of Tang Dynasty, and Ci-poets love to imitate Tang poets, especially Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Jvyi and Han Yu, in their diction and ideas; and Bai is followed in particular. In such an atmosphere, Yishan is inevitably influenced by Bai and he makes many quotations in his poems, so that his Ci-poetry is characterized with vigorousness and subtlety, elegance and force. Certainly, the greatest success of his modeling of Tang Poetry lies in his acceptance and absorption of Du Fu's poetry. His rich life experiences and his unique poetics naturally enable him to take Du Fu as his model. He takes in Du Fu's stylistic qualities of vigor and force into his own to serve his expression. In a word, his Ci-poetry absorbs Du's essence, which is different from Zhou Bangyan, who is in search of unique rhyme schemes, and which is the same as Xin Qiji .However, studies of such a great Ci-poet should certainly be based upon more solid documentation, including comparisons of the different versions, the production of the works, the proofreading and annotations among other factors. Yishan Ci-poetry is titled Yishan Folk Songs and Ballads, or Mr. Yishan New Folk Songs and Ballads, and its versions mainly include one volume, three volumes and five volumes, and there are some differences in the number, order, and forewords together with some elements, which demonstrate their various characteristics. The year of writing of some Ci-poems might be explained in a more reasonable way via Ci-poems, poems and articles. Yishan Folk Songs and Ballads is made up of about 380 Ci-poems. To proof read and annotate different versions, and their origins one by one, to explain the laws and rules, and to make clear the names of people and places will provide reliable and solid basis of documentation for the researches and theoretical interpretations. |
