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Full-Text Articles in Chinese Studies
The Play-Text Forms Of Early Zaju And Narrative Sanqu In The Jin And Yuan Dynasties, Dajun Xu
The Play-Text Forms Of Early Zaju And Narrative Sanqu In The Jin And Yuan Dynasties, Dajun Xu
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
The setting of the recitative protagonist is the core of Sanqu's narrative in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, who is a firstperson narrator undertaking responsibility for chanting the progression of story with his vision and position. Similarly, the leading singer (Zhengmo or Zhengdan) of Zaju is also a first-person protagonist who undertakes responsibility for chanting the whole librettos of a play-text, so he should be a recitative protagonist of librettos of Zaju. With a comparison of the librettos of Zaju's text attribute and the play-text forms with those of narrative Sanqu, we find that the play-texts of early Zaju have …
The Socializing Function Of Chinese Characters And The Worship Of Character Power Among Intellectuals In Jiangnan In The Qing Dynasty, Shijin Luo
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
During the Qing Dynasty, intellectuals in Jiangnan communicated with each other through literature, which could be analyzed in three aspects: talking about literature while drinking, taking writing as a profession, and achieving great success in writing. These three aspects embody the overall condition that the intellectuals take writing as a channel, a profession and a tool, reflecting their cognition of the social effects and cultural functions of "character-literature" in different levels. Socializing through writing is not a phenomenon in Jiangnan alone during the Qing Dynasty, but a shared practice among all intellectuals in ancient China to some extent. However, the …
The Literary Concepts Through Novel Titles Of The Ming And Qing Dynasties, Guofu Cheng
The Literary Concepts Through Novel Titles Of The Ming And Qing Dynasties, Guofu Cheng
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
Titles are special insight into the Ming and Qing novel writing. Through an examination of the texts, prefaces and epilogues, the records of book production, guidelines for book use, book reviews, notes etc. the paper explores the literary concepts reflected by the Ming and Qing novels. Specifically, novel titles can be interpreted in four respects, namely, the novel as a supplement to history, the novel as admonishment, the novel as entertainment, and the novel as true feelings. Through these concepts we may have a better understanding of the significance and the evolution of the literary concepts of the Ming and …
The Origination Of "Zhong Zhuo Da" From Calligraphy Critique: The Cultural And Literary Historical Background Of The Turn Of Ci-Poetry Criticism In The Late Qing Dynasty, Ronggang Jiang
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
"Zhong Zhuo Da" (Strength, Refined Antiquity, and Grandiosity) is an important theory of ci-poetry in the late Qing Dynasty, since its theoretical origin remains unknown, there are so various interpretations of the theory that there is still no consensus on its origin. Through a comprehensive study of the related cultural changes in the late Qing Dynasty, the paper argues that it is almost certain that the aesthetic paradigm should originate from the theory of tablet calligraphy critique. Given the shared problem with the development of ci-poetry and calligraphy in the late Qing Dynasty, critics introduced tablet calligraphy critique into ci-poetry …
The Construction And Review Of The Wujiang School And Linchuan School: A Study Of The History Research Books Of Traditional Chinese Drama In The Republic Of China, Huaping Cheng
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
The naming of Wujiang Group and Linchuan School in the history of drama was established by drama historians of the Republic of China. Because these drama historians had neither defined the concept of School, nor had they reached a consensus and guidelines that should be followed in the division of the School. These drama history research books differed in the classification and number of dramatists. In interpreting the theory of the two factions, there is also a tendency to exaggerate the opposition between the two groups. Since the Republic of China, some drama historians had denied the existence of Linchuan …
The Perfect Trinity Of Poetry, Calligraphy And Painting As A Neo-Classicist Paradigm In Zhao Mengfu: The Three Aspects Of Zhao Meng-Fu's Thought On Literature And Art, Yi Zhang
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
In the formation of the neoclassicism integrating the Yuan's and Southern and Northern Dynasties' retro ethos, Zhao Mengfu, known for his literary and artistic talents, played a pivotal role because of his opportunities to travel between South China and Dadu, the then capital, and to mix with his contemporary literati and artists, thus becoming an archetype of an artist featuring the trinity of poetry, calligraphy and painting. His "conception of antiquity", his understanding of the "Tang approach and Jin rhyme" and his high-brow, superbly skilled painting contains his valuation of classicality, naturalness, tradition, and innovativeness, informing the trend of the …
From "Poetry Critique" To "Drama Critique": Lü Tiancheng And Qi Biaojia's Critique Of Drama, Chao Wang
From "Poetry Critique" To "Drama Critique": Lü Tiancheng And Qi Biaojia's Critique Of Drama, Chao Wang
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
"Drama critique", an important form of critical studies of drama in the Ming dynasty, benefits more or less from the critical paradigms of poetry and prose in terms of the consciousness of different schools, the awareness of comparison and the image- and analogy-based aesthetical mindset. Meanwhile, Lü Tiancheng and Qi Biaojia, starting from the "nature and naturalness" theory in poetry criticism, pursue an aesthetical taste characterized by "ideo-mood-imagery" and "feel". By modifying the various indexes of "calligraphic critique" and "painting critique", including the "spirit, exquisiteness, potential and embodiment", they successfully refresh the essence of "drama critique", which reflects the evolution …
An Interpretation Of Zhang Xuecheng's Idea "The Philosophers And History Failed, Yet The Collection Flourished", Xu Fu
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
In Shijiao Zhang Xuecheng argues that "the philosophers and history failed, yet the collection flourished", using refined words to summarize the change of academic studies after Warring States. Not only does the argument describe the change of private writing's form, but also reveals its substantial change, which is the loss of purposes. In his discussion of the decline of history, Zhang Xuecheng especially emphasizes the loss of specialized subjects. This argument contains Zhang's academic ideal, and provides a frame of reference when it comes to other topics in Wenshi-Tongyi. The multiple dualities in this argument are consistent with the meaning …
Zhuzhi Poetry's Shift Of Writing Pattern And Its Improvement Of Status In The Qing Dynasty, Yi'an Zhu
Zhuzhi Poetry's Shift Of Writing Pattern And Its Improvement Of Status In The Qing Dynasty, Yi'an Zhu
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
Compared with the composition features in the Ming dynasty, zhuzhi poetry becomes more realistic in the Qing dynasty. Zhuzhi poetry and hundred endemic poetry are used to write detailed comments in ancient books and local chronicles, which pay special attention to documenting events and reality. These changes are related to the popularity of pragmatism that encourages contribution to society. At the same time, the intentional practice of taking part in compiling historical books enables many poets write local chronicles in the form of zhuzhi poetry. Because of their use of zhuzhi poetry to offer supplements to local chronicles and their …
Analyzing Poetics With Calligraphy: Calligraphy And Poetics Of The Classicist School In The Ming Dynasty, Xianpo Yuan
Analyzing Poetics With Calligraphy: Calligraphy And Poetics Of The Classicist School In The Ming Dynasty, Xianpo Yuan
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
Analyzing poetics with calligraphy is an important strategy for the Ming dynasty classicist poetics. It originates from Su Shi and Yan Yu, flourishes with the first seven celebrities and the last seven celebrities, and ends in the five litterateurs. Such a combination of calligraphy and poetics aims to establish classical aesthetics by learning from calligraphy in terms of its classical characteristics, and thus to find a theoretical basis for ancient poetics. Furthermore, the classicist school moves beyond the connection of form between calligraphy and poetics by emphasizing practice, namely, composing poetry in the way of coping calligraphic works. In short, …
A Discussion Of "Wen Bi" Theory In The Southern Dynasties From The Taboos Of "Bi", Yunyun Tang
A Discussion Of "Wen Bi" Theory In The Southern Dynasties From The Taboos Of "Bi", Yunyun Tang
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
Scholars have been discussing the connection between "Wen Bi" theory and its function in the division of literary genres. The book Wenjing Mifu Lun emphasizes the harmony but does not require end rhyme. "Wen Bi" theory is closely linked to the parallel prose according to taboos of "Bi", and thus they share popularity in the Southern Dynasties and decline in Tang Dynasty. We can also conclude from this fact that there is study of rhythm in the Southern Dynasties, which, however, was not sufficient to prove that there was the idea of "pure literature" at that time.
A Study Of Liu Yongji's Litterateur Temperament Through An Analysis Of The Separation And Reunion Of Xueheng And Xiangjun, Wenxin Chen, Junwei Jiang
A Study Of Liu Yongji's Litterateur Temperament Through An Analysis Of The Separation And Reunion Of Xueheng And Xiangjun, Wenxin Chen, Junwei Jiang
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
This paper aims to reveal Liu Yongji's litterateur temperament by analyzing the separation and reunion of Xueheng and Xiangjun, and by focusing on Liu Yongji's activities in the 1920s with reference to an inclusive definition of the academic community of Xueheng. In terms of Xueheng, Liu Yongji's role was always a supporter and a follower. In contrast, he adopted a more independent cultural attitude in terms of his discourse for Xiangjun. Unlike Xiangjun, which paid more attention to literature, Xueheng valorized academic research. Unlike Liu Yongji's high-hearted pride, Wu Mi’s style was much more like one of a fighter. These …
A Study Of The Origin Of "The Feng Brothers" Poetics From Home Influence And Discipleship, Yafeng Li, Youliang Zhang
A Study Of The Origin Of "The Feng Brothers" Poetics From Home Influence And Discipleship, Yafeng Li, Youliang Zhang
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
The Feng brothers of Haiyu are important figures of the Yushan School of poets, and have been regarded as the backbone of those who opposed of the retro-poetics in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. But few people have discovered the relationship between the Feng brothers and the retro school. This is not conducive to understanding their true poetics, and not conducive to clarifying the actual trajectory of poetry evolution from the Ming to the Qing. And this affects the correct understanding and evaluation of the status and the role of the Yushan School of poets. A comparative analyses …
Difference And Nexus Between Yijing And Chanjing: A Brief Discussion And Response To Yang Chu, Zuzhao Gu
Difference And Nexus Between Yijing And Chanjing: A Brief Discussion And Response To Yang Chu, Zuzhao Gu
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
The nexus between poetry and Chan is a hard issue in literary history. The paper outlines the formation of the theory of yijing, the ideo-mood-imagery, or the poetically evoked realm so as to tell that yijing is an original Chinese aesthetic category and it cannot be distorted by alien culture. The article, drawing on Sutra Spoken of Southern Buddhism, proceeds to show that chanjing, or the zen-induced realm, is characterized by the absence of images and emotions and aesthetic purposes, thus highlighting the basic difference of Yijing and Chanjing. The above argumentation aims to clarify various kinds of misunderstandings about …
The Paradigm Of "Ego Absent" In Classical Chinese Poem Writing: A Case Study Of Tang Poems, Yuqin Jiang
The Paradigm Of "Ego Absent" In Classical Chinese Poem Writing: A Case Study Of Tang Poems, Yuqin Jiang
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
It is usually believed that in classical Chinese poem writing, except on the form, there is little emphasis on internal aesthetic rules. Or rather, such rules are invisibly there, but simply defy any expedient attempt at summarization or generalization. Based on a textual examination of Tang poems and on critics' diachronic observations about Tang poetry, the paper contends that in classical Chinese poem writing, there does exist an aesthetic rule which can be termed the paradigm of "ego absent" characterized by the representation of scenery as a metaphorical expression of feelings and emotions. The emergence of the scenery-as-feelings/emotions paradigm in …
"As If Before The Eyes" And "Seen Beyond Words": The Aesthetic Pursuit And Function Of Inner-Vision In Chinese Poetics, Jing Zhang
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
Images and artistic conception in ancient Chinese poetics are in fact a beauty of inner-vision, which is the origin of what are seen as aesthetic standards: "yan wai zhi yi (lit. implication beyond words)" and "yun wai zhi zhi (lit. resonance beyond tone)". The beauty of inner-vision exactly reflects the basic aesthetic attributes of literature. Mei Yaochen, a poet in the Song Dynasty, says, "Depicting what is hard to depict as if before the eyes and expressing unlimited meaning beyond words." The inner logic for this sentence is that the former is the premise of the latter. Ideas such as …
Zhiyan And Zhuangzi's Concept Of Yan, Shugang Liu
Zhiyan And Zhuangzi's Concept Of Yan, Shugang Liu
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
This paper investigates zhiyan ("the goblet words"), which is the most important of the three kinds of words Zhuangzi used. In Zhuangzi, yan ("words") refers to the speeches peoples make, or texts the scholars write, and also concepts hidden in peoples' behavior. Therefore, zhiyan is not only a special way of speaking or writing, but also suggests a special style of living, and it depends on the deconstruction of the self. Zhiyan is closely related to Zhuangzi's essential theories such as the equalities between all speeches and the transformation of things. Based on the consciousness of language that zhiyan implies, …
A New Interpretation Of "Xing, Guan, Qun, Yuan", Qizhou Wang
A New Interpretation Of "Xing, Guan, Qun, Yuan", Qizhou Wang
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
Confucius puts forward the idea that "poetry helps to inspire, to observe, to keep company, and to express grievances" (xing, guan, qun, yuan), which had a huge impact on Chinese poetics. Among numerous interpreters of this idea, Zhu Xi was the most important authority. While he argues that the interpretation of "guan" by scholars in the Song Dynasty was unreliable, his own interpretations of Confucius's words were not logically consistent, either. Situated in the context of his own educational ideas and practices, one would discover that Confucius's words are about neither the composition nor ontology of poetry, but its use. …
Prefaces And Postscripts In Early Dunhuang BianwenAnd The Establishment Of Research Paradigm For Modern Folk Literature, Yajing Wang, Xun Sun
Prefaces And Postscripts In Early Dunhuang BianwenAnd The Establishment Of Research Paradigm For Modern Folk Literature, Yajing Wang, Xun Sun
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
Top scholars in China attracted by findings of Dunhuang Bianwen in 1907 sorted out these newfound materials and wrote prefaces and postscripts for them, which indicated their understanding of various aspects related to Bianwen. Firstly, studies of Bianwen's value brought folk literature to modern academics; secondly, the differentiation and analysis of Bianwen's literary forms opened up the path of emphasizing intrinsic characteristics of literature; thirdly, textual criticism on origins and development of stories in Bianwen introduced an important and new research method for narrative literature. All these paradigms and outlines of Bianwen studies established earlier have displayed Chinese academics' achievement …
A Dream Of Red Mansions And Xu Zhenya's Novel Writing, Yingjie Bai
A Dream Of Red Mansions And Xu Zhenya's Novel Writing, Yingjie Bai
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
This article discusses the influence that A Dream of Red Mansions had on Xu Zhenya's novel writing. In his early years, Xu Zhenya wrote sixty Ci-poems about A Dream of Red Mansions. These Ci-poems indicate his understanding of characters in the novel and the love tragedy of Baoyu and Daiyu. When writing novels, he always uses A Dream in Red Mansions as an exemplar. Although Her Sacrifice and The History of Tears are autobiographical novels, Xu imitates A Dream in Red Mansions in terms of characterization and plot. Two Servant Girls, his third novel, is entirely a duplicate of A …
On The Rise Of The Early Notion Of Literary Genres Inchina, Chengxue Wu, Guanlan Li
On The Rise Of The Early Notion Of Literary Genres Inchina, Chengxue Wu, Guanlan Li
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
Research on the generation of the notion of literary genres is the point of departure and a cornerstone for studies of the history of Chinese literary genre theories. The establishment of the notion of literary genres is marked by authors' having a clear knowledge of the characteristics of a certain genre, and applying it constantly and consistently, or in other words, by a consciousness of the very forms of literary genres. The notion of genres, in the beginning, is found, either in the application, or in the unambiguous definition and quotation, of the genres concerned. The birth of such a …
The Construction Of Orthodox Order And The Canonization Process In The Ci-Poetry Circle Of The Qing Dynasty, Mingsheng Cao, Xianyi Sha
The Construction Of Orthodox Order And The Canonization Process In The Ci-Poetry Circle Of The Qing Dynasty, Mingsheng Cao, Xianyi Sha
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
The two Ci-poetry schools of Zhexi and Changzhou constructed their orthodox order by focusing on Ci-poets in the Song Dynasty, who became canonized in the Ci-poetry circle of the Qing Dynasty and underpinned the claim of orthodoxies and theories of their Qing descendants. The rank of these model Ci-poets would vary with the adjustment of the orthodox order during school competition and theoretical debates, which demonstrated how Ci-poem's popularity among schools had tremendous impact on their canonization. In order to display the continuity and vitality of their own Ci-poetry schools, school successors supported their own outstanding Ci-poets to carry on …
The Experience Of Adapting And Creating Story-Telling And Singing Literature Of The Romance Of The Three Kingdoms Since The Ming And Qing Dynasties, Dejun Ji
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
Many folk story-telling and singing works have been adapted from The Romance of The Three Kingdoms since the Ming and Qing dynasties. During its adaption and performance, the folk artists have accumulated plenty of general art experience. Firstly, they change the the novel, which is to be read, into a performing art on the stage. Secondly, they reconstruct the plots or create new ones. Thirdly, they enrich the mentality and personality of the main characters, probing into the personality and psychology of the minor characters, and sometimes creating some new roles. Moreover, in order to get close to the public …
Esteeming The Poetic Style: Yan Yu's Theory Of Bense And Its Four Elements, Yongliang Shang, Yaqing Duan
Esteeming The Poetic Style: Yan Yu's Theory Of Bense And Its Four Elements, Yongliang Shang, Yaqing Duan
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
Unlike the literary trend in the Song Dynasty that good poetry is believed to consist in good diction, the poet's talent and learning, and ideas, Yan Yu's employment of "bense", or the fundamental quality, to define the nature of the poetic style and the boundaries of poetry so as to esteem the poetic style. The connotation of bense is related to four major elements, namely, the expression of xingqing (disposition) as the main pursuit, miaowu (subtle enlightenment) as the way of realization, xingqu (the evocation of interests) as the character of expression, and rushen (entering into a realm of supremacy …
The Literary Criticism Of Records Of History In The Song Dynasty, Xinke Zhang, Hong Li
The Literary Criticism Of Records Of History In The Song Dynasty, Xinke Zhang, Hong Li
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
There is plenty of literary criticism over time of Records of History as a fine example of the combination of literature and history. From a literary perspective, this paper discusses the contents and the significance of literary criticism of Records of History in the Song dynasty. Touching upon the political and cultural backgrounds, the paper analyzes the outreach as well as the cause and methods of literary reception in order to show the solid cultural foundation for Records of History’ literary criticism in the Song dynasty. With their narrative and characterization as core, the paper analyzes the main content of …
The "Drama-Embedded Mode" Of Popular Novels Of The Ming And The Qing Dynasties, Pengfei Li
The "Drama-Embedded Mode" Of Popular Novels Of The Ming And The Qing Dynasties, Pengfei Li
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
The "drama-inserted mode" of the novel refers to the insertion of drama stories, diction, and other elements into the plot or the narration of the novel. In this way, these dramatic elements can be connected with the plot, the narration, or the theme of the novel, thus creating a unique aesthetic effect. The "drama-inserted mode", which can be seen as one of the "layer structures", is not only the narrative method of the novel, just like analogy, intermingled plots and repeated relation, but also the narrative structure of the novel. This skill has been frequently usedin the the world history …
A New Exposition Of Su Ting's Comments On Li Bai With A Comment On Li Bai's Early Literary Explorations, Qinghai Liu
A New Exposition Of Su Ting's Comments On Li Bai With A Comment On Li Bai's Early Literary Explorations, Qinghai Liu
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
The meeting with Su Ting in Chengdu proved to be an important event in Li Bai's early literary life when Li Bai was encouraged and directed. Before the meeting, Li Bai's writing was more of a local literature than of a literary master starting a new literature. Su Ting was then lauded as "Master Pen" (Da Shoubi), and his appreciation of Li Bai's literary talent, to the extent that he compared Li Bai to Sima Xiangru, was influential on Li Bai's late writing. Especially, Su Ting's comments on the relationship between rhetoric (Ci-cai 辞采) and vigor of style (Feng-gu 风骨) …
Chuanqi & Zaju By Scholar Writers During The Republic Of China Period And Their Significance In Drama History, Dahuai Yao
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
Before the New Culture Movement, the development of chuanqi & zaju was directed by reporter writers and adherent writers. Hereafter, they were gradually replaced by scholar writers. Influenced by such factors as national crises and individual plights, scholar writers wrote plays to call upon the struggling spirit, or express their own melancholy. As they had the most profound attainment on traditional drama during the Republic of China, scholar writers respected the essence of drama, and especially devoted more in melody, phraseology and structure. They had the highest achievement in the creation of chuanqi & zaju since the late Qing Dynasty …
The Polar Opposites In The Criticism Of Li Yu Over Three Centuries, Mingqi Zhong
The Polar Opposites In The Criticism Of Li Yu Over Three Centuries, Mingqi Zhong
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
Since his lifetime, Li Yu has been receiving both positive and negative critical judgements. The primary reason for this was Li Yu's extremely complicated personality that had multi-layered polar opposites. It was also closely related to critical approaches and attitude. To avoid polar opposites in the criticism of Li Yu, we should avoid bias and emotional judgements, and adhere to the principle of prioritizing historical examination over moral evaluation. We should also comprehensively examine Li Yu's profile in the light of the development of his personality. It is necessary to distinguish and investigate Li Yu's behavior, thoughts and writing in …
The Influence Of Shangqing Taoist Sect's Meditation Method On The Pre-Song-Dynasty Fictions, Qingchuan Wan
The Influence Of Shangqing Taoist Sect's Meditation Method On The Pre-Song-Dynasty Fictions, Qingchuan Wan
Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art
Shangqing Taoist Sect's meditation method of "thought-holding" was similar to literary imagination in that it was characterized by a pictorial thinking, and this method inserted deep influence on the Taoist fiction writing in the pre-Song Dynasty. Some authors writing about immortal beings sat in meditation in front of the portraiture and wrote their novels, and some authors wrote out of their mystic illusions resulted from long and intensive meditation, and some authors wrote out of supernatural inspirations. The descriptions about the geography, plants, the clothes and pageants of the immortals reflected the influence from the Taoist portraiture and the process …