In the context of the prosperity of the Northern Song Dynasty, there was such a talented literati: his words were even better than Su Shi's, and his fame was no less than that of Ouyang Xiu, the leader of the literary world at that time, and he was the only writer in the Northern Song Dynasty who made a living from manuscript fees. However, it is surprising that the vast "History of the Song Dynasty" does not mention him at all. He is Liu Yong, a lyricist who lingers in the Qinglou Chu Pavilion. His works are sung in all directions, and are deeply loved by the people at the bottom, but they are not recognized by the upper class.
During the Northern Song Dynasty, China ushered in a golden age of prosperity and stability. The vigorous development of social economy and the prosperity of cultural undertakings have provided a broad stage for literati and scholars. In this context, a talented man named Liu Yong came into being.
Liu Yong was born in a well-off family and showed extraordinary talent since he was a child. However, fate always seems to love to play a joke on him. When he took the imperial examination for the first time, he unexpectedly failed.
This defeat was a big blow to the young Yanaga. He had a strong sense of self-esteem and felt shameless to face his hometown father, so he decided not to return to his hometown. The society of the Northern Song Dynasty was prosperous and rich, and it was a good place for people to linger and forget to return. Liu Yong finally chose the special world of Qinglou Chu Pavilion.
At first, Liu Yong, like other sons, had to spend money. But soon, the situation changed drastically. Yoo Young discovers that he has an amazing talent for composing music and lyrics. Every word he wrote quickly spread and became a popular song of the time.
The women of the Qinglou discovered the value of Liu Yong. With his words, they can attract more customers. As a result, Yoo Young and these prostitutes reached a wonderful cooperative relationship. He wrote the lyrics and music for them, and they supported him.
Yoo is not satisfied with just writing lyrics in a green building. He began to wander between the various Qinglou Chu Pavilions, and in doing so, he could maximize the benefits of each poem. Because there is no Internet, his lyrics are old in this house, but they are new songs in the next one.
In this way, Liu Yong became a frequent visitor to the Qinglou Chu Pavilion. Everywhere you go, you will leave a moving new word. The prostitutes were proud to know him and associate with him. Yoo Yong also mingles with them and is interdependent.
However, Yoo Young has not forgotten his ideals. He still dreams of one day being able to become a court official. So, he continued to take the imperial examination. After unremitting efforts, Liu Yong finally passed the first line.
Seeing that the title of the gold list was about to be titled, fate played a joke with Liu Yong again. When the emperor at that time drew up the admission list, he saw Liu Yong's name. He suddenly remembered Liu Yong's widely circulated song "Crane Rushing to the Sky".
This poem expresses Liu Yong's complaint that he has not met a talent, saying that he is a talented person who has been left out, and he is a "white-clothed prime minister". The emperor was very dissatisfied with this, so he mentioned the imperial pen instructions: "Let's go and sing in a low voice, why do you want to be famous?" In this way, Liu Yong lost the opportunity to enter the official career.
Liu Yong had no choice but to continue to linger in the fireworks willow alley. His fame grew so great that even the emperor was familiar with his words. Since then, he has one more title: three changes in the lyrics of the order. Later, he changed his name to Liu Yong, because he was the seventh in line, and he was also known as Liu Qi.
In the Northern Song Dynasty Renzong and its predecessors and periods, when it comes to Liu Qi, Liu Sanchang, and Liu Yong, it can be said that everyone knows about it. At that time, there was a saying that "wherever there is well water, you can sing willow words", which means that wherever people live, you can hear people singing Yanaga words.
Yoo Yong's fans are mainly the lower classes. Although people in high society also liked his words, they only dared to sing them in private, and did not dare to openly admit that they were his fans. Many famous literati secretly studied Liu Yong's words, but did not dare to admit it.
Liu Yong's creative career in the Qinglou Chu Pavilion can be described as wonderful. His talent was fully exploited in this special environment, and he created a large number of popular lyrics. Liu Yong's words were different from the mainstream euphemistic style at that time, but created a precedent for the bold school.
His words are easy to understand and close to the lives of ordinary people. This allowed his work to spread quickly and be loved by the public. Yoo Yong's lyrics often describe market life, the love between men and women, and even criticism of social reality.
In the Qinglou, Yoo Young befriended many prostitutes. These women became the inspiration for his creations and the faithful disseminators of his work. Liu Yong tailor-made lyrics for them, which often accurately expressed the voices of the prostitutes, so they were widely circulated in the Qinglou.
Liu Yong's words are not only attractive in content, but also extremely particular in terms of rhythm. He created many new word cards, such as "Crane Soaring to the Sky", "Yulin Bell", etc., which greatly enriched the expression of words. These new word plates have provided more creative possibilities for later generations of lyricists.
As his fame grew, Liu Yong's words began to spread out of the Qinglou and spread all over the streets and alleys. The phrase "wherever there is well water, you can sing willow lyrics" vividly describes the wide dissemination of Liu Yong's lyrics. Whether it is a peddler or a pawn, or a literati, they can hum a few words of Liu Yong.
Yooyong's success aroused the jealousy of some literati. They criticized Liu Yong's words for being vulgar and inconsistent with his status as a scholar. However, these criticisms did not dampen Yooyong's creative enthusiasm. On the contrary, he worked harder to respond to these doubts with practical actions.
In the process of creation, Liu Yong gradually formed his own unique style. His words have both the delicacy of euphemism and the courage of bold words. This kind of creative method that combines both styles has opened up a new path for later generations of poets.
Yoo Yong's words are not only close to the people in terms of content, but also innovative in form. He boldly broke the restrictions of the words of the time, and created many new words with long and short sentences. This innovative spirit makes his work more free-spirited and more expressive of complex emotions.
In Qinglou, Liu Yong is not only a lyricist, but also a musician. He composed the music for his words himself, making them easier to sing. Yanagye's mastery of music and rhythm has made his words also reach a high level of musicality.
Yoo Yong's career has not been without its challenges. He has also experienced creative lows, but each time he has been able to re-emerge with his talent. In the frustration and rebirth again and again, Liu Yong's lyrics became more and more exquisite.
As time passed, Yoo Yong's fame grew. Not only did the prostitutes of the Qinglou compete to sing his words, but even some dignitaries began to appreciate his works. Yoo Yong's words began to enter the upper class, and their influence further expanded.
However, Yoo Young has never forgotten his roots. His words have always maintained the characteristics of being easy to understand, whether they are dignitaries or ordinary people, they can find resonance in them. This characteristic of "elegance and common appreciation" has become the greatest charm of Liu Yongci.
Yoo Yong's creative career lasted several decades. During this period, he wrote a large number of lyrics, many of which are hand-me-downs. Words such as "Yulin Bell" and "Wanghai Tide" are still recited by people today. These works not only show Yoo Yong's talent, but also record the social landscape of that era.
Liu Yong's success provided a new way of survival for later generations of literati. He proved that it was possible to make a living by relying on literary creation, which was very rare in the social environment of the time. Yoo Yong's experience paved the way for future generations of professional writers.
Although Yoo Yong's words were widely welcomed, he was barely recorded in official history books. This situation reflected the attitude of the society towards literary creation at that time. Only literati who enter the official career can be officially recognized, while full-time writers can hardly obtain the status they deserve.
Liu Yong's lyrics are unique in the literary circle of the Northern Song Dynasty and create a new style of words. His eclectic creations broke the stereotypes and bad habits of the poetry world at that time, and injected new vitality into the literary form of words. Liu Yong's style of words can be summed up in eight words: detailed description, novel style.
Before Yoo Yong, the lyrics were mostly sung with music, and the content was mostly limited to the love between men and women, and the length was shorter. But Yoo Yong broke these limitations, and his words were not only rich and varied, but also greatly increased. Some words are even hundreds of words long and are called "long tunes".
This kind of long tone gives Yoo Yong more room to play. He can detail a complete story in a single poem, or express complex emotions. For example, his famous work "Yulin Bell" vividly depicts a parting scene, from the weather, scenery to the actions and dialogues of the characters, all of which are described in great detail.
Liu Yong's words are not only innovative in length, but also break through tradition in content. In his words, there is not only the love of children, but also the observation and reflection of social reality. His depictions of market life and folk customs are vividly depicted.
In terms of rhythm, Liu Yong also has a unique point. He is proficient in rhythm and is able to choose the right tone according to the content and emotion of the words. This makes his words not only catchy to read, but also extraordinarily beautiful to sing. It is this advantage in phonology that allows Liu Yong's words to spread quickly among the people.
Another distinctive feature of Liu Yong's style of words is that the language is easy to understand. He did not use obscure allusions like other literati, but wrote in the language used by ordinary people on a daily basis. This allows his words to be accepted and loved by more people.
In terms of expression, Yoo Young is also unique. He is good at using white drawing techniques to depict complex emotions in simple and straightforward language. This seemingly plain but subtle way of expression can often leave a deep impression on readers.
There are also some fresh images that often appear in Yoo Yong's words. He is adept at capturing the details of life and transforming them into vivid poetic images. For example, he used "silver vat remelting" to describe the brightness of the moonlight, and used "Dongcheng gradually feels the scenery is good" to depict the arrival of spring, which are all extremely creative expressions.
Structurally, Yoo Yong's words are also unique. He is good at using the technique of starting and ending, so that the emotional level of the whole poem is rich and undulating. This structural innovation makes his words read smoothly and naturally.
Another important feature of Liu Yong's style of words is that his emotions are sincere. Whether it is describing the pain of parting or expressing the hatred of cherishing talents, his words are full of true feelings. This sincere expression of emotion makes his words resonate with readers.
Liu Yong's innovation is not only reflected in his own creation, but also affects the development of the entire poetry world. The "slow word" system he pioneered provided a greater creative space for later generations of lyricists. Many famous poets, such as Su Shi and Xin Qiji, were influenced by Liu Yong to some extent.
Although Liu Yong's style of writing was criticized by some conservative literati at the time, it was well received by the people. His words were widely sung and became popular songs of the time. This phenomenon is extremely rare in the history of Chinese literature.
Liu Yong's words are not only innovative in content and form, but also unique in their creative attitude. He did not treat words as a pastime like other literati, but as serious literary creations. This attitude has kept the quality of his lyrics at a consistently high level.
In terms of creative themes, Liu Yong also has his own uniqueness. He not only writes about the love between men and women, but also about society. Among his words are criticisms of imperial court politics and sympathy for the people's livelihood and suffering, which are rare themes in the poetry world at that time.
Another characteristic of Liu Yong's style of words is that he is good at blending different styles. His words have both the delicacy of euphemism and the courage of bold words. This eclectic creative style greatly enriches the expressiveness of words.
Yoo Yong's unique style of writing and brilliant creative career have won widespread recognition and praise. His works were not only widely circulated at the time, but also had a profound impact on later generations. Liu Yong's achievements can be said to have created a new era in the world of words.
As time passed, Yoo Yong's fame grew. His lyrics are no longer limited to the brothel of Qinglou, but spread all over the country. From the small people in the market to the officials and nobles, almost everyone can sing a few willow words. This wide dissemination made Yoo Yong one of the most influential lyricists of the time.
Liu Yong's words were not only widely circulated among the people, but also gradually recognized by literati and scholars. Some people of insight began to re-evaluate Liu Yong's work and discovered the artistic value contained in it. They believe that although Yoo Yong's words are easy to understand, they contain deep emotions and unique artistic charm.
As Yoo Yong's fame grew, so did his life. Although he still likes to go back and forth to the brothels, he is no longer doing it to make a living. Instead, he became a guest of honour at these venues, and was sought after and respected by all.
Liu Yong's success also attracted the attention of the imperial court. Although he was never reused, his talent was recognized to a certain extent. It is rumored that Song Renzong once personally admired Yoo Yong's lyrics and praised them.
In his later years, Liu Yong began to organize his own works. He compiled a collection of lyrics and compositions he had written over the years, which he named "Movement Collection". This collection not only records Liu Yong's creative process, but also becomes an important material for later generations to study Liu Ci.
Liu Yong's success has also inspired more people to embark on the road of lyricists. Many young people followed Yooyong's example and began to compose lyrics. This led to an unprecedented development of the literary form of the word in the Song Dynasty.
Yoo Yong's influence is not limited to the literary world, but also extends to the field of music. He has created many new wordplates, which provide new possibilities for music creation. These new word plates were widely adopted, greatly enriching the musical forms of the Song Dynasty.
As Yoo Yong's fame grew, his life story began to be widely celebrated. Various legends began to circulate about him, some real and some fictional. These legends further add to Yooyong's mystique and charm.
After Yooyong's death, his influence did not disappear with it. On the contrary, his lyrics continue to be widely sung among the people. Many people began to reminisce about Yoo Yong's life, lamenting his talent and fate.
Later generations of literati and scholars also spoke more and more highly of Liu Yong. They believe that Liu Yong is not only an excellent lyricist, but also an important turning point in the world of words. Liu Yong's creation marks the beginning of the maturity of the literary form of words.
In the compilation of literary history, Liu Yong began to occupy an important position. Many literary and historical works devote a lot of space to Liu Yong's life and work. He is known as the "first lyricist of the Northern Song Dynasty", and this evaluation has not changed for a long time.
Liu Yong's lyrics have also become the object of study for later generations of literati. Many people improve their creative skills by studying willow words. Yoo Yong's unique creative style and techniques have become the object of imitation by many people.
In the history of music, Yoo Young also occupies an important place. Many of his lyrics became classics and were widely adopted by later generations of musicians. It can be said that Yoo Young not only influenced the development of literature, but also promoted the progress of music.
Liu Yong's achievements have also triggered a rethinking of the status of literati. His success proves that even if you don't have a career in the world, you can be a great success by focusing on literature. This change in concept had a profound impact on later generations of literati.
As time went on, the research on Yoo Yong became more and more in-depth. Scholars not only study his lyrics, but also begin to discuss his life experience and creative background. These studies have further enriched people's understanding of Yooyong.
In the folk, Liu Yong's image has also gradually been deified. Legends and stories related to Yoo Young have appeared in many places. Although these legends may not be entirely true, they reflect people's reverence and affection for Yoo Yong.
Overall, Yoo Yong's life can be said to be legendary. He went from a down-and-out literati to a far-reaching giant in the world of words. His achievements not only changed his own destiny, but also gave impetus to the development of literature and music as a whole. It can be said that Liu Yong's success is the perfect combination of talent and opportunity.