Shen Yue
Encyclopedia
Shen Yue (441–513), courtesy name Xiuwen (休文), was a poet
, statesman
, and historian
born in Huzhou, Zhejiang
. He served emperors under the Liu Song Dynasty
, the Southern Qi Dynasty, and the Liang Dynasty
.
He was a prominent scholar of the Liang Dynasty
and the author of the Book of Song
, an historical work covering the history of the previous Liu Song Dynasty
. He is probably best known as the originator of the first deliberately applied rules of tonal euphony
(so called "four tones and eight defects" 四聲八病) in the history of Chinese prosody
. He was also the leading scholar on the musical practices of his time and author of the essay on qilin
.
.
. This would become crucial to certain forms especially associated with poetry of the Tang Dynasty
, such as the lushi (poetry)
.
. One of the most important sections on this is his Treatise on Music.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
, and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
born in Huzhou, Zhejiang
Huzhou
Huzhou is a prefecture-level city in northern Zhejiang province of Eastern China. Lying south of the Lake Tai, it borders Jiaxing to the east, Hangzhou to the south, and the provinces of Anhui and Jiangsu to the west and north respectively.-Administration:...
. He served emperors under the Liu Song Dynasty
Liu Song Dynasty
The Liu Song Dynasty , also known as Song Dynasty , Former Song , or Southern Song , was first of the four Southern Dynasties in China, succeeding the Eastern Jin Dynasty and followed by the Southern Qi Dynasty....
, the Southern Qi Dynasty, and the Liang Dynasty
Liang Dynasty
The Liang Dynasty , also known as the Southern Liang Dynasty , was the third of the Southern dynasties in China and was followed by the Chen Dynasty...
.
He was a prominent scholar of the Liang Dynasty
Liang Dynasty
The Liang Dynasty , also known as the Southern Liang Dynasty , was the third of the Southern dynasties in China and was followed by the Chen Dynasty...
and the author of the Book of Song
Book of Song
The Book of Song , also called "The History of the Song," is a historical text of the Liu Song Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties of China. It covers history from 420 to 479, and is one of the Twenty-Four Histories, a traditional collection of historical records. It was authored by Shen Yue from...
, an historical work covering the history of the previous Liu Song Dynasty
Liu Song Dynasty
The Liu Song Dynasty , also known as Song Dynasty , Former Song , or Southern Song , was first of the four Southern Dynasties in China, succeeding the Eastern Jin Dynasty and followed by the Southern Qi Dynasty....
. He is probably best known as the originator of the first deliberately applied rules of tonal euphony
Euphony
Phonaesthetics is the claim or study of inherent pleasantness or beauty or unpleasantness of the sound of certain words and sentences. Poetry is considered euphonic, as is well-crafted literary prose...
(so called "four tones and eight defects" 四聲八病) in the history of Chinese prosody
Chinese poetry
Chinese poetry is poetry written, spoken, or chanted in the Chinese language, which includes various versions of Chinese language, including Classical Chinese, Standard Chinese, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Yue Chinese, as well as many other historical and vernacular varieties of the Chinese language...
. He was also the leading scholar on the musical practices of his time and author of the essay on qilin
Qilin
The Qilin is a mythical hooved Chinese chimerical creature known throughout various East Asian cultures, and is said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a wise sage or an illustrious ruler. It is a good omen that brings rui . It is often depicted with what looks like fire all over...
.
Poetry
Shen Yue was known for his love poetry; for example, he wrote a set of poems, called by Burton Watson "Six Poems on Remembering", describing his beloved during six times of the day. The "Six Poems on Remembering" get fairly close to being specifically erotic, which is rather unusual for Classical Chinese verse (at least as it has been handed down). The verse on remembering her when she sleeps includes the lines:-
-
-
-
-
- ...
- undoing her sheer gown without waiting to be urged,
- resting on the pillow till caresses find her.
- Fearful that the one by her side is watching,
- she blushes under the candle's glow.
-
-
-
-
Contributions to literary theory
Shen Yue was one of the most import writers in terms of contributing to the ideas behind much of later Classical Chinese poetryClassical Chinese poetry
thumb|right|300px|Attributed to [[Han Gan]], Huiyebai , about 750CE .Classical Chinese poetry is that type of poetry that is the traditional Chinese poetry written in Classical Chinese. It is typified by certain traditional forms, or modes, and certain traditional genres...
.
Contributions to Regular Verse tonality theory
Shen Yue apparently was the initial developer of the theoretical basis for the development of tonality in relationship to regulated verseRegulated verse
Regulated verse, also known as Jintishi is a development within Classical Chinese poetry of the shi main formal type. Regulated verse is one of the most important of all Classical Chinese poetry types...
. This would become crucial to certain forms especially associated with poetry of the Tang Dynasty
Tang poetry
Tang poetry refers to poetry written in or around the time of and in the characteristic style of China's Tang dynasty, and/or follows a certain style, often considered as the Golden Age of Chinese poetry...
, such as the lushi (poetry)
Lushi (poetry)
Lushi lüshi refers a specific form of Classical Chinese poetry verse form. One of the most important poetry forms of Classical Chinese poetry, the lushi was an eight-line regulated verse form with lines made up of five, six, or seven characters; thus:*Five-character eight-line regulated verse : a...
.
Yuefu
Shen Yue is also credited with being the first to apply the term Yuefu in a generic sense to the Han Dynasty ballad style poetry (as opposed to the earlier meaning of referring to the Yuefu, or the Han imperial Music BureauMusic Bureau
Music Bureau , also known as the "Imperial Music Bureau", discontinuously and in various incarnations was an organ of the imperial governmental bureaucracy of several Chinese dynasties...
Song Shu
Shen Yue was largely responsible for writing and compiling a history of the Southern Song Dynasty, known from its Chinese name as the Song Shu or Sung Shu, and in English as the Book of SongBook of Song
The Book of Song , also called "The History of the Song," is a historical text of the Liu Song Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties of China. It covers history from 420 to 479, and is one of the Twenty-Four Histories, a traditional collection of historical records. It was authored by Shen Yue from...
. One of the most important sections on this is his Treatise on Music.
See also
- Chinese historiographyChinese historiographyChinese historiography refers to the study of methods and assumptions made in studying Chinese history.-History of Chinese Historians:Record of Chinese history dated back to the Shang Dynasty. The Classic of History, one of the Five Classics of Chinese classic texts is one of the earliest...
- Classical Chinese poetryClassical Chinese poetrythumb|right|300px|Attributed to [[Han Gan]], Huiyebai , about 750CE .Classical Chinese poetry is that type of poetry that is the traditional Chinese poetry written in Classical Chinese. It is typified by certain traditional forms, or modes, and certain traditional genres...
- History of ChinaHistory of ChinaChinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
- Lushi (poetry)Lushi (poetry)Lushi lüshi refers a specific form of Classical Chinese poetry verse form. One of the most important poetry forms of Classical Chinese poetry, the lushi was an eight-line regulated verse form with lines made up of five, six, or seven characters; thus:*Five-character eight-line regulated verse : a...
- Regulated verseRegulated verseRegulated verse, also known as Jintishi is a development within Classical Chinese poetry of the shi main formal type. Regulated verse is one of the most important of all Classical Chinese poetry types...
- Six Dynasties poetrySix Dynasties poetrySix dynasties poetry refers to those types or styles of poetry particularly associated with the Six dynasties era of China . This poetry reflects one of the poetry world's more important flowerings, as well as being a unique period in Classical Chinese poetry' which, over this time period,...
- Twenty-Four HistoriesTwenty-Four HistoriesThe Twenty-Four Histories is a collection of Chinese historical books covering a period from 3000 BC to the Ming Dynasty in the 17th century. The whole set contains 3213 volumes and about 40 million words...