Study On The Notes Of Couplets

The Notes of Couplets’ first edition is in 1840, there was different editions unceasingly until the Republic of China. This paper gives brief introduction about the main editions, and illustrates the problems of some edition’s publishing time and content. And concludes that Huan Bi Xuan’s edition is not the first edition, at the same time explains Lv Enzhan edition’s problems and features. Through comparing all versions, points out the errors of the punctuated editions. This paper analyses the stylistic rules and layout of The Notes of Couplets, illustrates the constitution of a single notes of couplets and what we should pay attention about the quotation. There exists regular pattern of the couplets’ category and in every chapter the arrangement is orderliness. Collecting enough related statements, we can prove that this book is written by the author himself rather than by others. Through analyzing the author’s comments on the couplets, we can find that the author comment couplets on the couplets’ words, content, style, suspension etc. On the words, we should take care of the accuracy, antithesis, allusions and tones. On the content, we should take care of realistic spirit and the couplets’ philosophy. On the couplets’ style, there’s comments from different angles, and comment according to different situations using ancient criticism theory. Neat, elegant and suit should be the comment words commonly used to criticize the couplets. And there is negative comment from different angles as well. There is also comments on couplets’ calligraphy and suspension, then is the difference between couplets and ingenious couplets. In the end, it’s the appendix consists Yi Jia Tang edition and Lv Enzhan edition’s preface which is not been published ever.