The brilliant and talented Yu Hsuan-Chi (A.D. 843-868) was famous as the most eminent Taoist poetess of later T'ang years.
A leading female exponent of Taoism, she wrote poems freely and, believing in the equality of the sexes, associated boldly wi...
The brilliant and talented Yu Hsuan-Chi (A.D. 843-868) was famous as the most eminent Taoist poetess of later T'ang years.
A leading female exponent of Taoism, she wrote poems freely and, believing in the equality of the sexes, associated boldly with men.
She excelled in lyrical, retrospective and deep felt description. As a representative woman-writer in the history of Chinese literature, she has been acclaimed for the depth of her knowledge and her noble virtue.
Her poems and songs number 53 in all, with 47 of her poem appearing in wood-block print during the Sung dynasty. She possessed an individuality that set her apart from the numerous other poetesses of the T'ang dynasty. Her works sang the praises of intellectual liberty and her freedom from the bondage of Confucian restriction. The strength of her will is evident in her writings.
Her works thus figure prominently in the history of Chinese women's contributions to Chinese literature. This article examines her works in the light of the literary environment and way of life of the time, and attempts classifications and estimations of her works, comparison with her female contemporaries in the field of poetry, and analysis of collections of poems which appeared in woodblock.(宋木版).
There are only two study papers which are found.
1. Genevieve Wimsatte, "Selling Wilted Poenies Bibliography and Songs of Yu Hsuan-Chi T'ang Poetries." P.119, 1936.
2. Chin Han-Sung (陳恒昇), "Estimation of Yu HsuanpChi, T'ang Poetess." Changryu (暢流) vol.37, No. 11, p.13, 1969.7.