Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 The literary scene before the rise of the Kung-an school
- 2 The literary theories of the three Yüan brothers
- 3 The poetry of Yüan Hung-tao
- 4 The prose of Yüan Hung-tao
- Epilogue: the legacy of the Kung-an school
- Notes
- The modern study of the three Yüan brothers and their Kung-an school: an introduction and select bibliography
- Chinese titles of works translated in chapters 3 and 4
- Glossary index
1 - The literary scene before the rise of the Kung-an school
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 October 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 The literary scene before the rise of the Kung-an school
- 2 The literary theories of the three Yüan brothers
- 3 The poetry of Yüan Hung-tao
- 4 The prose of Yüan Hung-tao
- Epilogue: the legacy of the Kung-an school
- Notes
- The modern study of the three Yüan brothers and their Kung-an school: an introduction and select bibliography
- Chinese titles of works translated in chapters 3 and 4
- Glossary index
Summary
Literary criticism in the late Ming
Literary criticism flourished during the late Ming as never before. Never in the history of Chinese literature had so many educated men dedicated themselves to the study of literary theories. During the last century of the Ming dynasty literary theory no longer remained the exclusive preserve of theorists; it became a popular subject among many men of letters. As one of the major channels through which writers expressed themselves, literary criticism became almost inseparable from philosophy and was more closely related to common sentiment and feeling than had ever before been the case.
Late Ming poets and essayists consciously tried to put their theories into practice. Although applications of theory were not always consistent in their works, their enthusiasm and sincerity about practicing what they believed cannot be questioned. It was this enthusiasm that turned late Ming literary criticism into a highly polemical subject, so much so that a skeptical and adversarial tone colored almost all discussions of literature. As soon as one critic established a theoretical basis for criticism, it was immediately subjected to revision by another critic. Late Ming literary criticism is consequently characterized by a wide range of distinctive attitudes toward literature and a variety of literary movements.
The development of literary criticism during the Ming dynasty coincided with the decline of classical poetry and prose. This decline was most often attributed to the adoption of the eight-legged essay (pa-ku wen) in the civil examination system.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Yüan Hung-tao and the Kung-an School , pp. 1 - 26Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1988