Evolution of Ci Poetry of the dynasties of Tang and Song in the perspective of dissociation and integration of Shi and Ci

Abstract

The development of Chinese literary genres is largely a history of dissociation and integration. Ci and shi are closely associated at all times, separated at one time, and fused with each other at others. A brief survey of dissociation and integration of ci and shi falls into four periods: 1) starting from the early to the mid-late Tang Dynasty (Tang Chao Ug CE 618–907), when ci was derived from shi and no distinction existed between the two; 2) the late Tang Dynasty and the following Five Dynasties (Wu Dai N擭? CE 907–960), during which ci was separated and known from shi; 3) the Northern Song Dynasty (Bei Song S[? CE 960–1127), when ci developed and experienced a transform and took an initial inosculation into shi; and 4) the Southern Song Dynasty (Nan Song SW[? CE 1127–1279), when ci was shifted completely to shi (poetry) and the two were thoroughly merged.