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Tsaur Jyr's Song Of The Ill-fated Lady

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 December 2009

Extract

IN Tsaur Jyr's Collected Works (Tsaur Jyi Chyuampyng)1 we find under the title Chieh Baurminq two stanzas, together with a few fragments, believed to be parts of the poem, gleaned from commentaries to works other than Tsaur Jyr's and from the encyclopaedia Beeitarng-Shuchau.2 The title of this poem (literally: ‘I am ill-fated’) suggests the story of an ill-fated lady, deserted by her husband or lover, reduced to dire poverty and therefore constantly in tears, as we find her commonly depicted in Chinese poetry. The I contents of the poem, however, do not tally with this expectation. This fact has been ignored by the majority of scholars who commented on the poem, but two commentators3 have touched on it while discussing the significance of the poem as a whole.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © School of Oriental and African Studies 1955

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References

page 526 note 1 hereafter abbreviated to TJCP, by Ding Yann , 1865. Basic Sinoogical Series, p. 43.

page 526 note 2 , rep. 1888, J. 132, p. 6a.

page 526 note 3 Remarks by Ju Chyan and Ju Jiajeng are quoted in the Tsaur Tzyyjiann Shy Juh, hereafter abbreviated to TTSJ, by Hwang Jye , 1928, J. 2, pp. 4b–6b. The original works of these commentators are inaccessible to me. Hwang Jye's book has been made available to me by Professor J. R. Hightower, to whom I would like to express my deep gratitude.

page 526 note 4 For my translation I used commentaries recounted as well as offered by Hwang Jye, TTSJ, J. 2, pp. 4b–6b.

page 528 note 1 I follow the text in Jang Puu's edition because this seems to tally with the topography of Jiannjang Palace ; see the Hann Wey Liowchaur Baesan Jia Jyi , rep. 1877, 22, J. 2, p. 14a.

page 528 note 2 The beautiful goddess of the River Luoh.

page 528 note 3 That is, retiring from the round of visiting pavilions, ponds, etc.

page 528 note 4 See the Odes (Karlgren), No. 9.

page 528 note 5 The two beautiful and loyal consorts of the Emperor Shuenn .

page 528 note 6 evokes the idea of a large quantity of wine supplied by the host.

page 529 note 1 Through unrestrained laughter.

page 529 note 2 The character means ‘to soak’; it probably refers to the mixing of powder with water and perfume or essences of spice, to have it ready for application. For powder preparation and the use of make-up by men see notes under the lines ; and respectively. Beeitarng Shuchau J. 135, p. 14a; pp. 14a–b.

page 529 note 3 Although records the anecdote of Huandih giving cloves (chicken tongue spice) to an old courtier who had stale breath to put in his mouth, this reference to cloves here seems to be connected merely with the preparation of face powder for freshening up the host's make-up: see Taypyng Yuhlaan , 981/6b–7a.

page 530 note 1 See the Hann Shu Buujuh, edited by Wang Shianchian: .‘Alas, I was destined to have the misfortune of being chosen before the Jinqning period’, implying that otherwise her allowance as imperial consort would have been fixed at a better rate. J. 97, p. 15b.

page 530 note 2 I have been unable to ascertain the date of this commentary.

page 530 note 3 Beautiful women favoured by the Emperors Wuu and Cherng respectively.

page 530 note 4 See TTSJ, J. 2, p. 6b. Ju Chyan's work is inaccessible to me.

page 530 note 5 A Jeuren of the Tsorngjen period (1628–1644).

page 530 note 6 See TTSJ, J. 2, p. 6b.

page 531 note 1 , TJCP pp. 45–6.

page 531 note 2 , TJCP p. 58.

page 531 note 3 For Tsaur Jyr's see TJCP, p. 11.

page 531 note 4 cf. stanza 2, line 26

page 532 note 1 See the commentary to the Sangwo Jyh , Wey Jyh, Syhhuh Tsonglcan, Bornah edition, J. 5, pp. 4b–9b.

page 532 note 2 According to the Wey Liueh , Sangwo Jyh, ed. cit., Weyjyh, J. 21, p. 5a, col.

page 533 note 1 For his loss of favour with his father through his impulsive behaviour in connexion with his riding through a forbidden gate and his over-eagerness in answering trial questions put to him, etc., see Wey Jyh, in the Sangwo Jyh, ed. cit., J. 19, pp. 4a and 6a.

page 533 note 2 This lady Chyi Jiang is mentioned as such in the Odes(see Karlgren, No. 138). There her name is used as a byword for queenly beauty. But there is a further Ode (see Karlgren, No. 57) which sings of the marriage of this same beautiful princess to the ruler of Wey. By associating the lady of the present poem with this princess of the Odes Tsaur Jyr could enhance her grace, beauty, and position in the imagination of the reader in a most economical way.

page 533 note 3 See the Odes, Karlgren, No. 41.

page 533 note 4 See Chinese text, p. 527, 11. 27–9. Compare these with from , Wensheuan , Basic Sinological Series, J. 4, p. 78, and from the Odes, Karlgren, No. 174.

page 534 note 1 , TJCP p. 56.

page 534 note 2 Wensheuan, Basic Sinological Series, J. 20, p. 424.

page 534 note 3 Wensheuan, Basic Sinological Series, J. 20, p. 425.

page 534 note 4 Poems such as the following: , etc., Han Wey Liowchaur Baesan Jia Jyi by reprinted in 1877, , J. 2, pp. 14a–b; letters to in the Wensheuan, Basic Sinological Series, J. 42, p. 924, cols. 1–5,;. and p. 925, cols. 1–2.