A Research On Xia Chengtao’s Ci Poetry

Xia Chengtao, known as an outstanding Master of Ci poetry of his time, is the summarizer of the traditional Ci poetry and the founder of the modern Ci poetry in China. All of his academic achievements, prominently displayed in the aspects of chronicle of Ci writers’life, corrections to Ci collections, criticism of Ci poetrys and diary of learning Ci poetrys, are collected in Xia Chengtao’s collection. The paper goes to the discussion from the above four aspects, consisting of the preface and six chapters.The preface elaborates the significance, value, and current research on academic achievements of Xia Chengtao’s Ci poetrys. Xia Chengtao’s Ci poetrys, which consists of literature research and theoretical research, is an essential part in20th century Ci poetry, containing abundant research significance and research. Currently, the study of Xia Chengtao has made some progress, which can be classified into holistic research, partial investigation, and memorial review. Generally, these researches made a high evaluation on the achievements of Xia Chengtao’s Ci poetry. However, there are still some defects and insufficiency.The first chapter introduces Xia Chengtao’s life and works, which should be known initially in order to study Xia Chengtao’s Ci poetry. According to his experience and some turning points in life, Xia Chengtao’s life can be divided into several stages, In accordance with his works in different periods, Xia Chengtao’s scholarship can be divided into three periods:exploring period, creative period and metamorphosis period. According to his achievements, it can be classified into published works and unpublished works. The former establishes his scholarship achievements; and the later is the indispensable part of his achievements, which is also worth cherishing.The second chapter discusses chronicle of Ci writers’life, which is initiated by Xia Chengtao and is widely known as his most important achievements. Chronicle of Ci writers’life is developed from chronicle of poet’s life. Before the20th century, there is no much attention on Ci writers’life, which results in unfounded Ci writers’life and their unjustified works. In connection with this fact, after searching for piles of ancient literature, Xia Chengtao writes more than70kinds of chronicle of Ci writers’life in Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan and other dynasty, including10kinds chronicle and12Ci writers in Tang, Wu Dai and Song dynasty. His visionary ideas of "verifying the deeds’sequence" and "identifying the truth" run through his works Chronicle of Ci writer’s life in Tang and Song dynasty. Meanwhile, he properly deals with large numbers of academic difficulties. In the terms of research method, Xia Chengtao explores many aspects in Chronicle of Ci writer’s life in Tang and Song dynasty, which shows its unique characteristics besides its general feature. Consequently, the framework of chronicle is completely constructed. What is more, during the process of making chronicle, the principles of finding the truth and filling with affection supplement each other. However, there are still many differences existing in ten chronicles. In short, Chronicle of Ci writer’s life in Tang and Song dynasty has highly academic value and it has been the foundation works of the morden Ci poetry research.The third chapter explores the chronicle, annotation and correction of Ci collections, which is another significant achievements of Xia Chengtao. Resembling chronicle of Ci writers’life, the chronicle, annotation and correction of Ci collections is originated from poetry collections’. On the basis of previous studies, Xia Chengtao accomplishes The Chronicle, Annotation and Correction of Jiang Baishi’s Ci Poetry, The Annotation and Correction of Long Chuan’s Ci Poetry and other works. In view of the subjective and objective factors, the manifestation of these two works presents their common and different aspects. In the aspect of chronicle and correction, in order to keep the balance, it attaches importance to correction and shows its own features in the long correction. On the whole, The Chronicle, Annotation and Correction of Jiang Baishi’s Ci Poetry is a magnum opus of research on Jiang’s Ci Poetry, which is explicated precisely, verified accurately and collected abundantly. Moreover, its distinguishing features and perfect framework is not only Xia Chengtao’s representative work but also a masterpiece of the chronicle, annotation and correction of Ci collections; namely, it absolutely has been a piece of classical works in the field of chronicle, annotation and correction of Ci collections.The fourth chapter makes comments on criticism of Ci poetry, which are Xia Chengtao’s main achievements after the founding of the People’s Republic. Absorbing the essence of the ancient criticism of Ci poetry and breaking through their limitations, Xia Chengtao’s criticism of Ci poetry summarizes the associated problems and forms his own individual notion and theoretical assertion of Ci poetry by relying on his previous investigation and verification. Xia Chengtao’s criticism works is composed of Ci poetry of quatrain and proem. Quran’s Ci poetry of quatrain, containing lots of awesome views, mainly comments on the features and quality of the Ci writers and their works through the ages, In the company of the Ci theories, this works is not only poetry but also criticism and it is a marverlous criticism of Ci poetry. Xia Chengtao’s proem places emphasis both on discussing Ci writers, School of Ci poetry and exploring the theories and criticism of Ci poetry. His profound and insightful vision is already superior to his age. In terms of research method, Xia Chengtao uses the proper way of criticism to explore many problems of Ci poetry, which provides a new way of thinking mode and research method. In a word, in spite of its limitations from the age, Xia Chengtao’s criticism of Ci poetry symbolizes the highest level in20th century.The fifth chaper inspects the diary of learning Ci poetrys. The distinctive works The Diary of learning Ci poetrys of Tianfengge reflects Xia Chengtao’s academic life. Firstly, this book not only reveals Xia Chengtao’s industrious and diligent life from a common learner to a great master but also unfolds his gracious life attitude. Secondly, it is his summarization of his academic experience and his vision of Ci poetrys. The concise and incisive comments are illuminating as well as enhancing the works’theoretical value. Furthermore, his ample academic conceptions pave the way of the further research. At the same time, it displays that the contemporaneous scholars explore Ci poetry and promote the academic development by means of letters and community activities after they have known about each other. Consequently, it demonstrates the ups and downs of Ci poetry in the latest century, which is an epitome of the developmental history of Chinese Ci poetry. To sum up, The Diary of learning Ci poetrys of Tianfengge is a treasure, which has great academic and literary value.The sixth chaper discusses Xia Chengtao’s status and his influence. As a master of Ci poetry, Xia Chengtao’s numerous classical works became the milestone in the history of Ci poetry and reprehensive of outstanding academic works. His contribution to Ci poetry has inestimable value and displays the direction of modern Ci poetry’s development. Most importantly, Xia Chengtao sets a brilliant example for the later researchers, whom are inspired by his demeanor, spirit, moral and personal charm. In brief, Xia Chengtao’s Ci poetry holds a great place and gives grand influences on the modern Ci poetry; meanwhile, it enlightens the later generation’s study and behavior.