San QU

San Qu is a type of non-dramatic lyrical verse that can be sung.It derived from Ci and laterassimilated the tunes of northern folk music.Though closely connected with Ci and poetry，San Qu is generally more colloquial than Ci in language，and freer in rhythm.Although line length and tonal pattern are still governed by a given tune，extra words can be inserted to make the lyrics livelier.In style，it is passionate，forceful and more direct，using more direct narration rather than metaphors and symbols.13San Qu came from ordinary people and was widely welcomed by them.

According to various anthologies，there are more than 200 San Qu writers，who produce as many as 4，000 pieces.These San Qu may express ideas about living in seclusion，tell of romantic love between city women and their beloveds，describe natural beauties and reveal social reality.

The most respected San Qu composers include Guan Hanqing，who is good at revealing the subtle female sentiments；Bai Pu，who excels in narrating ideas about living in seclusion；and Ma Zhiyuan，who is adept at blending profound philosophy，wonderful artistic expressiveness，and his powerful emotions and broad mind into fine pieces.The most popular piece by Ma Zhiyuan is “Autumn Melancholy，to the Tune of‘Sky-clear Sand’”：

Over old trees wreathed with rotten vines fly crows；Under a small bridge beside a cot a stream flows；

On ancient road in western breeze a lean horse goes.

qingquang

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