“Eight Tones of Ganzhou (Facing the Drizzling Evening Rain)” by Liu Yong is a quintessential ci poem from the Northern Song Dynasty. Written to the tune “Ba Sheng Gan Zho⋯ Read the full article

“Wang Hai Chao (Southeast Stands Supreme)” by Liu Yong is one of the most celebrated ci poems of the Northern Song Dynasty. Written to the tune “Wang Hai Chao,” it paints⋯ Read the full article

“Feng Qi Wu (Standing by the Tall Tower in a Gentle Breeze)” by Liu Yong is an iconic ci (lyric) poem from the Northern Song Dynasty. The name “Feng Qi Wu” is the musical⋯ Read the full article

“Song of the Rainy Night Bell (Chill Cicadas, Piercing),” often shortened to “Rain on the Bells,” ranks among the most renowned works of the Song Dynasty poet Liu Yong. B⋯ Read the full article

In this poem, Liu Yuxi addresses his reappointment to a post in Lianzhou (连州) and subsequent travels onward to Manzhou (满州) across mountainous terrain. The poem is de⋯ Read the full article

“Memories of Jiangnan (Spring Has Passed)” follows the typical form of the Yi Jiangnan (忆江南) lyric, a ci genre renowned for its concision and musical cadence. In this ⋯ Read the full article

This second poem in Liu Yuxi’s “Spirit of Xiao and Xiang” series evokes the legendary lament of E Huang and Nü Ying, the consorts of the sage-king Shun who, upon his deat⋯ Read the full article

In this second poem of his “Willow Branch” series, Liu Yuxi focuses on the understated power of the willow—one of the most iconic symbols in Chinese poetry. The opening l⋯ Read the full article

“Ball Tossing Revelry” (抛球乐) by Liu Yuxi offers a charming snapshot of youthful celebration in a springtime setting. Though the poem is brief, its imagery is richly ev⋯ Read the full article

In this quatrain attributed to Liu Yuxi—whose works often explore change, memory, and the natural world—a traveler describes ascending the Temple of Heaven (天坛, Tiān Tá⋯ Read the full article

In “Embankment Stroll,” Liu Yuxi offers a tender portrait of seasonal transition and the impermanence of cherished memories. Set along a riverside path in southern China,⋯ Read the full article

“Spirit of Xiao and Xiang” (潇湘神) by Liu Yuxi draws on centuries-old lore surrounding the Xiao and Xiang Rivers, which flow through Hunan Province. Local tradition reco⋯ Read the full article

“A Glimpse of Lake Dongting” (望洞庭) by Liu Yuxi is a short yet evocative poem that captures the tranquil beauty of Dongting Lake, located in present-day Hunan Province.⋯ Read the full article

In “Tai Cheng,” Liu Yuxi draws the reader’s gaze toward a once-flourishing capital, now hushed by time. The poem references the ‘six dynasties’ that once made their seat ⋯ Read the full article

Often referred to simply as “No Title,” this quatrain by Liu Yuxi paints an image of regal stillness and untold sorrow. The poem begins with an evocative scene of the pal⋯ Read the full article