New Perspectives on Tang Dynasty Music and Dance

Author: Shen Dong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: The choice of "literary history" over "biographies of literary masters" or "critical essays on literature" as the primary form of literary research in Chinese academia clearly benefits from the influx of Western learning. From the transformation of literary concepts and the shift in the positioning of literary genres to the reform of the education system and the renewal of curriculum design, "literary history" gradually became a familiar knowledge system in China. As a form of writing that combines education and research, "literary history" in 20th-century China was remarkable for its high output and widespread dissemination. This book can be said to be built upon the academic training of Chinese literature and history as well as Western ethnomusicology. However, hidden between the lines, after the rigorous academic scrutiny and dialectical reasoning, lies the author's youthful innocence of "wandering in the arts" and his passion for Chinese music. Compared to traditional literary theory, literary history research should head where, and how to undergo a thorough self-reflection, strive for reform, and achieve excellence—these are questions worth serious consideration.