The Development of Ci Poetry Criticism in Song Literary Miscellanies: an Evaluation of Li Yu, Liu Yong, and Su Shi

Abstract The literary miscellanies of the Song dynasty offer a rich corpus of material on ci poetry, including comprehensive analyses of three seminal ci poets from the Five Dynasties period and the Song dynasty: Li Yu, Liu Yong, and Su Shi. Li Yu holds the distinction of being the first literati ci poet in Chinese literary history. Liu Yong made significant contributions to the evolution of ci forms and techniques, while Su Shi revolutionized the style of ci and elevated its artistic realm. The literary miscellanies of the Song dynasty offer extensive commentary on these three poets, providing valuable insights into the evolution of ci poetry. In their analyses, the Song literati bifurcated Li Yu’s ci oeuvre into pre- and post-dynastic fall. They expressed sympathy for his ill-fated life, acknowledging his superior literary talents in contrast to his political abilities, and lauded his ci works that articulated “the sorrowful and contemplative tones of a fallen dynasty.” These scholars recognized Li Yu’s contribution in giving voice to the literati through the medium of ci . Liu Yong’s ci received mixed evaluations; while his vulgar style was both criticized and affirmed, his prolific creation of manci and narrative techniques garnered general approval. Regarding Su Shi, the literati commended his elevation of ci ’s literary quality and his pioneering of the bold and unconstrained style. They offered nuanced critiques of his musical deficiencies in ci composition and his approach of composing ci as a secondary pursuit. The literary miscellanies also present balanced assessments of the debate between Liu and Su’s respective styles. These discussions are instrumental in laying the foundation for a systematic criticism of Chinese ci poetry.