Xiao Gang

Works

1. Literature · Poetry30
   1. On My Wife Napping in the DaytimeNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's poem on his wife's afternoon nap, a defining piece of Palace Style verse
   2. Song of the Roosting CrowsNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's four seven-character yuefu on an old Western tune, light, sensual and flowing
   3. Song of Beauty in Eighteen Rhymes · The Singing Girl and Her GallantNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's yuefu 'Song of Beauty': a singing girl, a dashing young noble, and autumn at dusk
   4. Songs and Strings of Shu · Ten RhymesNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang on Shu: mountain roads, Ba dances, Zhuo Wenjun, and a wife who meets her husband
   5. The Concubine's Ill Fate · Ten RhymesNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's 'Concubine's Ill Fate': Wang Qiang and Lady Lu as foils for a woman left waiting
   6. +25 more

      1. The Newly Built Palace of Peace and JoyNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang on a new palace: painted rafters in the mist, pearl blinds, the sound of pipes
      2. Twin Parasol Trees by the Empty WellNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang on twin parasol trees by a well: phoenix, dawn crows, and a beauty at the windlass
      3. The Lady of Chu Sighs · A Long Night in the Quiet ChamberNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's 'The Lady of Chu Sighs': a long silent night and tears falling on a robe
      4. The Road of Luoyang · Fruit Piled in Tall CarriagesNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's 'Road of Luoyang': spring light, pellet-bow boys, silkworm girls, loaded carriages
      5. Breaking Willow Twigs · Pipes in the Empty WoodsNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's 'Breaking the Willow': spring willow threads, a pipe on the wall, all longing
      6. South Lake · From the Songs of YongzhouNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's 'South Lake': floating leaves, lotus scent, and lotus-shaped boats on a fair day
      7. North Isle · From the Songs of YongzhouNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's 'North Isle': willows, whitewashed battlements, and girls rowing in splashing water
      8. The Great Embankment · From the Songs of YongzhouNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's 'Great Embankment': travellers linger at Yicheng among wine, wild rice and a beauty
      9. The Lotus Boat Buys Its PassageNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's lotus-gathering poem: a boatman lingers; parting leaves mark the boat's way
      10. Watching a Hairpin Fall in the StreamNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang by the water: the current breaks the reflections, a hairpin falls, hearts differ
      11. A Spring Night · Coloured Paper Folded in VainNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang matches a prince on a spring night: an empty bed-curtain, nowhere to send a letter
      12. A Winter Dawn · Why Rouge So EarlyNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's winter morning: sun on the beams, a resentful woman who sees no use in early rouge
      13. In Jest, in the Manner of Xie Huilian · Thirteen RhymesNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang in Xie Huilian's manner: a spring courtyard, peach and willow, wine and grief
      14. The Singing Girl's Resentment · Twelve RhymesNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's singing girl: moonlit pavilions, keepsakes, a far frontier, no news
      15. Matching Recorder Xu: Watching His Wife Make BeddingNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang matches Recorder Xu: a wife makes bedding, mandarin-duck patterns, fear of parting
      16. Teasing Two Beauties with a PoemNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's teasing gift to two beauties: matching make-up, a shy smile, flowers and a tune
      17. Autumn Boudoir, Night ThoughtsNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's sleepless autumn night: window moon, crickets, cloth pounded beyond the walls
      18. Matching the Prince of Xiangdong · A Man of Note Delights in a Peerless BeautyNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang matches the Prince of Xiangdong on a peerless beauty: phoenix tower, willow and peach
      19. Back in the City from a Halt on the MarchNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang back in the city from camp: green water, plum scent, and the one left to an empty bed
      20. On a Discarded ConcubineNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang on a discarded concubine: once shy and bright, now pitying herself in tears
      21. Writing in Play, Brush in HandNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang writing in play: dancers, Shu tunes, immortal peaches, pomegranate wine, moon
      22. Song of Beauty · Cinnamon Door and Apricot BeamsNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's 'Song of Beauty': cinnamon door, apricot beams, a woman scenting her skirt for dusk
      23. Resentment · The Fan and the Autumn WindNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's 'Resentment': the autumn wind and the white fan, and gold and jade that cannot help
      24. In the Manner of Marquis Shen's 'Night After Night'Northern and SouthernXiao Gang imitates Shen Yue's 'Night After Night': frost, no sleep, a night as long as grief
      25. The Seventh Night · The Heavenly Shuttle StopsNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang on the Seventh Night: purple mist, sword-glow, a guest star, a shuttle that stops
2. Literature · Sayings5
   1. Entering the Fish Market and No Longer Smelling the StenchNorthern and SouthernFamous phrase from Xiao Gang's letter to his brother: blind to the stench of bad style
   2. Singing Out One's Feelings and NatureNorthern and SouthernFamous phrase from Xiao Gang's letter to his brother: poetry should sing of feeling
   3. A Monkey Washed and Wearing a CapNorthern and SouthernIdiom from Xiao Gang's letter of advice to his son: a monkey in a cap, all show
   4. As Distinct as the Clear Jing and the Muddy WeiNorthern and SouthernIdiom from Xiao Gang's Letter to the Prince of Xiangdong: telling clear from muddy
   5. Standing Face to the WallNorthern and SouthernIdiom in Xiao Gang's letter to his son: without learning one stands facing a wall
3. Literature · Prose2
   1. Letter to the Prince of XiangdongNorthern and SouthernCrown prince Xiao Gang's letter to his brother Xiao Yi attacking the capital's literary fashion
   2. Admonition to Daxin, Duke of DangyangNorthern and SouthernXiao Gang's admonition to his son Daxin: study hard, live with care, but write with abandon