Role of Ci Anthologies in Ci Poetry Theory of Qing Dynasty

The popularity of Ci anthologies was eye-catching in history of Ci poetry theory of Qing Dynasty. People took the advantage of the anthologies to convey their own thoughts of Ci poetry. Ci anthologies of Qing Dynasty exerted a major influence on Ci genre of the time. Poetry anthologies in Qing Dynasty are roughly of three sorts: that of Tang and Song Ci compiled in Song Dynasty, that of all-dynasty Ci and of Qing Ci both compiled in Qing Dynasty. Artists in Qing Dynasty paid great attention to the effect that the different kinds of anthologies had made on the way of Ci poetry writing. In their opinion, Ci anthologies were the means of Ci poetry criticism and the form of Ci poetry theory. The appearance of Ci anthologies in Qing Dynasty was always accompanied by the vicissitudes of schools of Ci poetry theories. They, as an important form of Ci theory, played a significant role in the history of Qing Ci poetry theory.