Tang and Song Legends

Author: Duan Qiming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-07-01
Features: Tang legends often focus on Tang-era events and characters, mostly modeled after Tang people, daring to directly depict Tang life. In contrast, Song-era works typically revolve around ancient figures and events, rarely addressing social issues of the Song dynasty. Works like "The Biography of Li Shishi" are extremely rare. This is a significant difference between Tang and Song legends. Additionally, Tang legends primarily express the author's thoughts through the stories and fates of characters, with some concluding remarks often integrated into the plot rather than serving as moral teachings. On the other hand, Song-era works often include didactic remarks at the end, frequently detached from the story itself, sometimes even delving into politics or Confucian philosophy, completely unrelated to the narrative.