Biographical details
Quan is the daughter of a small court official, King Fachang. She became a subordinate member of the Japanese court, especially of Emperor Yicheng (986-A.D./KOOC-0/0/KOOC-0//KOOC-0/). There is also a famous writer in this group of ladies-in-waiting: Murasaki shikibu, who wrote The Tale of Genji, which is considered by many as the first novel in the world. The purpose of gathering such a group of talented women to teach and tease Xiangzi is to ensure that she, as a representative of the powerful Fujiwara family, can maintain a good impression on the emperor and thus maintain the influence of the family.
Quan's name comes from the works of her father and husband. Shikibu means "secretary", which is her father's role, because in ancient Japan, daughters were usually called fathers. He Quanbu married a person close to him and married Governor Quan. We know that she and she have a daughter named Yue Shubu (she is a famous poet herself), so she took the name Quan.
Quan's poems emphasize the transience of people's life and love.
Her poems are harmonious, that is, each poem is exactly five lines (5+7+5+7+7)3 1 syllable. Like her contemporaries, these poems emphasize sadness and the transience of people's life and love. This practice is based on experience. When her lover, the kind prince, died, the poetess considered seclusion in a monastery, as she said in the preface of one of her poems: "I wrote it at about the same time, when I was considering becoming a nun." Poetry reading:
I feel so pitiful.
I'm ready.
Abandon the world—
When I thought I had one
Intimate with such a man!
(Keane, 297)
After a year of mourning, the author met and married an officer, Fujiwara (958- 1036). When they moved to other provinces, they all followed. It seems that at the end of her life, in A.D. 1030, Quan converted to Buddhism, as shown in the following poem:
From the darkness
I want to take a road.
Greater darkness,
Shining on me from a distance,
The moon is on the edge of the mountain.
(Keane, 288)
The "Tao" here is a spiritual journey, and the moon is a common metaphor for Buddhist enlightenment. In fact, to this day, there is a small worship and shrine dedicated to Quanzhi Department in Shinrikyo Buddhist temple in Kyoto, which is also the location of her (allegedly) tomb. Every year on March 2 1 day, the traditional anniversary of the poet's death, a ceremony will be held there to recite her poems.
Izumi Diary
Diary of Kawasaki Department, called Nikki of Kawasaki Department in Japanese, may have been written in A.D. 1004. In fact, it is not a diary at all, but a series of memories and plots. The author writes in the third person, calling herself onna or "woman" from beginning to end. Although it covers the year from the summer of 1003, these items have no date, and the author imagines the thoughts of the people who participated in her memory as novels. For this reason, there are also a few scholars who think that this work is not entirely made at all. Another departure from the pure diary form, 140 and songs and poems appear in prose. These poems make readers stop in the narrative and enhance the fantasy experience of love, which is a common concept in Japanese literature at that time.
The diary records the year when a scandal broke out between Quan and Prince Houdao (AD 98 1- 1007), which led to the departure of the Crown Princess. We also know that in the year before Quan had an affair with her kind brother Prince Xiao (977- 1002), this relationship seemed to have ended her first marriage. This relationship ended with the death of 26-year-old Yuzhu. Quan and his brother didn't have much luck because he died on 1007. The following is an excerpt from the diary, which illustrates a typical poem insertion that usually appears in pairs, one of which is a reply to the other:
The prince came in his usual secret way. Enna thinks it is unlikely that he will come. The recent religious ceremony made him feel tired and dozed off, so when someone knocked at the door, no one would notice the sound. His royal highness, hearing all kinds of rumors, guessed that there might be someone inside, quietly retired and came the next day:
When standing
Mumenqian
not published
I have experienced it.
A cruel heart.
So this is the poor feeling, I know now. Look at my poor state. "It seems that your highness really volunteered last night! I fell asleep, so heartless! " She thought. She responded:
How can you "experience"
Whether it is or not.
Is the heart cruel?
You're just intact.
My wooden door.
(Wallace, 19 years old)
Quan lost her first lover, and she sought comfort from her second lover. The couple's fear of court rumors is the theme of this diary:
..... He said that he lives in a very secluded place now. She went with him and decided that this time she would do as he asked. They talk freely together from morning till night, get up or sleep at will. She freed herself from the painful days and wanted to live with him.
(Keane, 376)
Sample poem
When I was lying on my stomach
If my black hair
Everything is a mess,
I miss
He always combs and caresses it.
(Keane, 296)
Because I planted it.
A cherry tree in the house
No visitors,
I use cherry blossoms now.
To beautify yourself.
(Keane, 296)
cherry
Blooming in my garden,
But this is not good:
A woman, not a tree,
What attracts tourists.
(Keane, 296)
I'm alive, yes,
But can I rely on it?
Exposed things
The true nature of the world
This is morning glory.
(Keane, 296)
If there is only this world
Enter the spring and autumn period.
We can do it forever.
Summer and winter.
Never so much.
(Whitney Hall, 99)
Ready to love me
Even change my human form;
All the differences
I come from insects in summer.
Hidden is my flame.
(Keane, 297)
I heard there is.
The night of the return of the deceased;
But he's gone,
The house where I live is
A place without soul.
(Keane, 297)
Now I can only think-
Yes, it happened, and besides,
Recall the past.
I wish I had some memories.
So sad, I want to forget them.
(Keane, 297)
I am going to die soon.
As a final memorial
Take it out of this world,
Come to the present again—
This is what I want most.
(Keane, 298)
heritage
Quan's poems were greatly appreciated before her death. A poem by Quan appeared in Shui Shu, a royal collection of poems completed in A.D. 1005. She performed better in another royal collection of poems, Shui Qiao Shu, published in A.D. 1087, which included 68 poems of her time. There are 1 152 royal poems 16, namely 1 188' s Shi Ka Shu and Xianju Ji 2 1. However, Quan's fame lasted longer. During the Muromachi period (A.D. 1333- 1568), her fame as a court lady and a Japanese writer in the golden age made her the theme of one of the popular short stories, and now she is widely regarded as one of the most important poets in Heian period (A.D. 794- 1 185). The following excerpts from 20th Century Japanese Biography Dictionary summarize the poet's style and enduring reputation:
Her poems are full of passion and shine; Her rich imagination is like a galloping horse; Her freedom of speech is rare. She should be regarded as the first poetess in China. (cranston, 1)