Research On Houcun Ci

Liu Houcun, a typical successor of Xin Qiji Ci-poetry school in the Southern SongDynasty, has been a leading figure in literary world during the late period of theSouthern Song. In recent years, research on Houcun Ci-poetry have drawn growingattention. Academic circles mainly focus on the study of chronological order and notes,Ci theories, artistic characteristics and its position on Ci history. Research on the contentof Houcun Ci-poetry primarily concentrates upon birthday-congratulating Ci poetryand patriotic Ci poetry, other aspects having been rarely involved. Based on the aboveconsiderations, aiming to learn from the previous results, from the perspectives ofcontent classification, diversified artistic styles, and artistic techniques, a comprehensiveand in-depth study on Houcun Ci poetry has been carried out. This paper can be dividedinto four parts:Chapter one is the analysis of the two controversial issues about Liu Houcun.Whether he is a successor of Xin Qiji Ci-poetry school, and there is also somecontroversy over his relationship with Jia Shidao in the academic circles. This paperargues that from the perspectives of artistic style, ideological content and emotionalstyle, Liu Houcun is a truly successor of Xin Qiji Ci-poetry school. It also analyzes LiuHoucun’s flattering attitude to the treacherous court official Jia Shidao in his later years.Therefore, we should properly look at his friendship with Jia Shidao, and give anobjective evaluation to Jia Shidao’s historical achievements.Chapter two gives a comprehensive and systematic classification about Houcun Cipoetry. According to its importance degree and significance, Houcun Ci poetry isdivided into seven categories. The first category is political commentary Ci poetry,which is mainly based on the major social event, to reflect the theme of the times with some political criticism and practical value. The second category is patriotic Ci poetry,which mainly express the desire for national unity and regaining the lost land. The thirdcategory is birthday-congratulating Ci poetry, which includes self birthday and othersbirthdays. The former ones mainly reflect his sorrow and sadness on old age, and hisresentful and unrestrained inner heart. The later ones are due to the social engagement,and mainly concerns wishes on promoting to a higher position. And in this kind of Cipoetry, he has given his best wishes for the joy of human relationships and expressed hissincere feelings. The fourth category is chants poem, worrying about national affairsand expressing his deep patriotic feelings with the moving and tragic tone. The fifthcategory is Ci for festive customs. Through people’s colorful daily life, culture andcustoms in Southern Song Dynasty, it expresses his yearning for homeland, hisfrustration on fleeting life, and his patriotic feelings. The sixth category is romantic Ci.As a bold and unconstrained Ci writer, he shows another side of himself when narratingthe feelings for the children and the lingering love for lover. The seventh category isfarewell Ci, which mainly concerns about friendship. As a patriot in Southern SongDynasty, he integrates his enthusiasm and fervour into his Ci composition, hence his Cihas been endowed with the characteristics of the timesChapter three analyzes Houcun Ci poetry’s diversified artistic styles. With variousstyles and unique characteristics, his works can be bold and imaginative, vigorous andpowerful, in the meantime, they can also be profound and forceful, and sometimes fresh,elegant and romantic.The fourth chapter introduces Houcun Ci poetry’s artistic technique. There are fivetechniques of expression having been summarized through a thorough analysis:1. usingallusion;2. using poetic image;3. using Fu as Ci;4. using essay as Ci;5. worldliness.