A Lute of Jade | Page 3

the following chart to see how these words?originally appeared, and how they are presented in this text. In each case, the line with the letters is the same as in the text, and the accent marks are on the line above.
Names of People
" " ^ ^ "?Ch`u Yuan Meng Hao-jan Ts`en-Ts`an Po Chu-i
" ^ * *?Ssu-K`ung T`u T`ai Chen Lao Tzu Chuang Tzu
Names of Places
? " Ssuch`uan Ch`u
The accent marked by an asterisk resembles the lower half of a circle.
It is noted in the appendix that Mr. Lionel Giles is responsible for these transliterations.]
[This etext has been transcribed from a New York edition of 1909. Please note that not only is the system of transliteration out of date (though perhaps still easier to use than the current standard), but other things may be out of date as well. The study of Chinese literature has come a long way from the time when Mr. Cranmer-Byng had to include books in four languages to come up with a short bibliography. Still, this book may serve well as an introduction to the subject.]
A LUTE OF JADE
To Professor Herbert Giles
A Lute of Jade
Being Selections from the Classical Poets of China
Rendered with an Introduction?by L. Cranmer-Byng?Author of "The Odes of Confucius"
With lutes of gold and lutes of Jade
Li Po
Contents
Introduction?The Ancient Ballads?Poetry before the T`angs?The Poets of the T`ang Dynasty?A Poet's Emperor?Chinese Verse Form?The Influence of Religion on Chinese Poetry
The Odes of Confucius?Sadness?Trysting Time?The Soldier
Ch`u Yuan?The Land of Exile
Wang Seng-ju?Tears
Ch`en Tzu Ang?The Last Revel
Sung Chih-Wen?The Court of Dreams
Kao-Shih?Impressions of a Traveller?Desolation
Meng Hao-jan?The Lost One?A Friend Expected
Ch`ang Ch`ien?A Night on the Mountain
Ts`en-Ts`an?A Dream of Spring
Tu Fu?The Little Rain?A Night of Song?The Recruiting Sergeant?Chants of Autumn
Li Po?To the City of Nan-king?Memories with the Dusk Return?An Emperor's Love?On the Banks of Jo-yeh?Thoughts in a Tranquil Night?The Guild of Good-fellowship?Under the Moon?Drifting
Wang Ch`ang-ling?The Song of the Nenuphars?Tears in the Spring
Chang Chih-ho?A World Apart
Chang Jo-hu
T`ung Han-ching?The Celestial Weaver
Po Chu-i?The Lute Girl?The Never-ending Wrong?The River and the Leaf?Lake Shang?The Ruined Home?A Palace Story?Peaceful Old Age?Sleeplessness?The Grass?Autumn across the Frontier?The Flower Fair?The Penalties of Rank?The Island of Pines?Springtide?The Ancient Wind
Li Hua?An Old Battle-field
Ssu-K`ung T`u?Return of Spring?The Colour of Life?Set Free?Fascination?Tranquil Repose?The Poet's Vision?Despondent?Embroideries?Concentration?Motion
Ou-Yang Hsiu of Lu-ling?Autumn?At the Graveside
Appendix
Editorial Note
The object of the Editors of this series is a very definite one. They desire above all things that, in their humble way,?these books shall be the ambassadors of good-will and understanding between East and West -- the old world of Thought and the new of Action. In this endeavour, and in their own sphere, they are but followers of the highest example in the land. They are confident that a deeper knowledge of the great ideals and lofty philosophy of Oriental thought may help to a revival of that true spirit of Charity?which neither despises nor fears the nations of another creed and colour. Finally, in thanking press and public for the very cordial reception given to this Series, they wish to state that no pains have been spared to secure the best specialists for the treatment of the various subjects at hand.
L. Cranmer-Byng.
S. A. Kapadia.
Northbrook Society,
185 Piccadilly, W.
A Lute of Jade
Introduction
The Ancient Ballads
A little under three hundred years, from A.D. 618 to 906,?the period of the T`ang dynasty, and the great age of Chinese poetry had come and gone. Far back in the twilight of history,?at least 1,700 years before Christ, the Chinese people sang their songs of kings and feudal princes good or bad, of husbandry, or now and then songs with the more personal note of simple joys and sorrows. All things in these Odes collected by Confucius belong to the surface of life; they are the work of those who easily plough light furrows, knowing nothing of hidden gold. Only at rare moments of exaltation or despair do we hear the lyrical cry rising above the monotone of dreamlike content. Even the magnificent outburst at the beginning of this book, in which the unhappy woman compares her heart to a dying moon, is prefaced by vague complaint:
My brothers, although they support me not,?Are angry if I speak of my sadness.
My sadness is so great,?Nearly all are jealous of me;?Many calumnies attack me,?And scorning spares me not.?Yet what harm have I done??I can show a clear conscience.
Yes, the conscience is clear and the song is clear, and so these little streams flow