Since ancient times, whenever two generations of the same family distinguish themselves in literary works, they are especially lauded. To cite some luminaries, the father and daughter Ts'ai Yung (蔡邕 132-192 AD) and Ts'ai Wen-chi (蔡文姬 177-249 AD) of the Han dynasty, the father and sons Su Hsün (蘇淘 1009-1066), Su Shih(蘇軾 1037-1101) and Su Che (蘇轍 1039-1112) of the Sung dynasty. They are well known to most.

In the last hundred years, catastrophes recur, culture is decimated. Those who still know the names of the father I Shun-ting (易順鼎),an eminent late Ch'ing poet, and the son I Chün-tso (易君左), a popular Republican literatus, are few.

I Shun-ting was a classical poet and I Chün-tso was a write of modern Chinese, who both wrote lyrics and essays filled with angst and indignation. Now we too are living in unsettled times, there is much empathy reading their writings.

Curatorial and Editorial Department