Jiang Kui and Southern Song Culture

Author: Zhao Xiaolan
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2001-05-01
Features: Zhao Junxiaolan presented his book Jiang Kui and Southern Song Culture and hoped that I would say a few words. I have not conducted in-depth research on Jiang Kui, and due to my declining health, I was unable to thoroughly read Xiaolan’s book. I only glanced at its outline and some chapters, making it difficult to offer insightful remarks. I can only share a few reflections.
The primary task when studying any subject, especially various social sciences and literatures, is to grasp the characteristics of the object of study. For instance, when researching Song Dynasty literature, one must understand its differences from literature of previous and subsequent dynasties, as well as its unique contributions to the development of Chinese literature. This principle extends to studying a specific genre, literary school, group, or individual writer of the Song Dynasty as well. This is common knowledge.
However, it is not easy to provide an in-depth and precise summary of the characteristics of a dynasty’s literature, a specific genre, a literary school, or a highly accomplished writer. To make new discoveries or breakthroughs based on previous research is even more challenging. This requires a scholar’s knowledge, but even more so, it demands a certain insight beyond previous scholars, and the two are interconnected.
By "insight," it not only includes a new perspective (point of view) but also scientific methodology. Since the methodology must be scientific, it must be based on sufficient primary materials, which requires a scholar’s knowledge. Beyond being familiar with the object of study, one must also understand relevant theories, history...