Liu Yong’s Ci and the New Development of Capital Literary Discourse in the “Making” of Bianjing

The classical Chinese poetry composed in the ci form by Liu Yong 柳永 holds a significant place in the history of “capital literature.” Liu’s ci encompass verses written at the behest of the emperor, lauding the emperor, and also vivid depictions of life in Bianjing 汴京, the capital of the Northern Song dynasty. While Liu’s portrayal of Bianjing may lack novelty in terms of basic themes and content, his structural skills shine through in his creative and charming descriptions of minutia such as the weather and walking. In contrast to poetry and prose from the Han through Tang dynasties, Liu’s ci do not focus on the spatial characteristics of the capital city, but rather emphasizes the passage of time and sensory experiences. This focus suggests a change in his perception of the capital city, transitioning from a representation of authority to an expression of customs and shared enjoyment between the emperor and the people. Through his creation of a discourse system for capital city poetry, Liu profoundly influenced subsequent poets and popular literature. Analyzing Liu’s ci and capital literature through the lens of a discourse system allows us to appreciate the subjectivity and agency of literature as it both originates from the capital city and allows the city to thrive.