Yuan Dynasty Poetry

Abstract

Yuan poetry refers to the poetry composed during the Yuan dynasty, a period when China was under Mongol rule. The dating of the Yuan dynasty can be a complex question. In Chinese historiography, the dynasty is often considered as a successor of the Song dynasty (960–1279) and is said to begin in the year 1271 since an edict was issued by Khubilai Khan (b. 1215–d. 1294) to proclaim the establishment of the Yuan. Yet, as early as 1234, the Mongol ruler Chinggis Khan (b. c. 1158–d. 1127) had already been ruling over much of northern China. Thus, to provide a more comprehensive history of Yuan poetry, this article adopts a looser definition and incorporates literary works produced by poets who were active in the 1230s. Similarly, for the end of the dynasty, this article incorporates poets who were born before 1368, the year when the last Yuan emperor Toghon Temür (b. 1320–d. 1370) abandoned the Yuan capital Khanbaliq (modern Beijing). Apart from the dating of the Yuan dynasty, the term “poetry” also deserves further rumination. “Poetry” may seem like a self-evident concept since it is often translated as shi詩 (poetry or verse). Yet, if one defines poetry as an expression of feelings and ideas with the use of a distinctive style and rhythm, then other genres like ci詞 (song lyrics), fu賦 (poetic expositions), and sanqu散曲 (colloquial songs) would all fall within the definition of poetry. Since the early 20th century, due to an emphasis on the evolutionary nature of Chinese literature, a dynastic succession of literary genres has often been assumed, and the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) was often associated with the poetry genre sanqu. While it is important to acknowledge that sanqu was a new poetic genre that emerged during the end of the Jin dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan dynasty, it is equally important to recognize the significance of other genres of poetry. For instance, the development of fu in the Yuan dynasty was linked to the changes in civil examination, and shi poetry was often used to forge literary communities. This article is organized according to the poetic genres listed above to provide a thorough overview of Yuan-dynasty poetry. For those interested in more general reference works for Chinese poetry, they should also consult the Oxford Bibliographies article “Traditional Chinese Poetry.”