A Comparative Study on the Interweaving of Chinese and Western Thought

Author: Li Jiaxiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: The original intention behind writing this book was to compare the major issues or new problems involved in Chinese and Western literary theory, from the emergence of literature to literary criticism, in a horizontal sequence or process. The book has discussed various aspects of literary theory, including literary ontology, essence theory, author theory, creation theory, constitution theory, and reception theory. The discussion of Eastern and Western theory primarily ranges from ancient times to modernity. It also attempts to conduct a comprehensive and multi-layered analysis within a long and broad historical and cultural context, hence the current title of the book. In the author's view, as the name suggests, literary theory is a theory that studies the entire ontology of literature. It cannot be replaced by poetry as a part to represent the whole of literature. As for whether the original state or origin of literature or art is poetry or other art forms like dance, it remains an unresolved issue to this day. Moreover, determining which is the highest art category is also a matter worthy of exploration. And whenever there is "comparison," there is always a specific stance and perspective that cannot be transcended. My comparison may be viewing the issues through the "colored glasses" of Chinese literary theory. I hope and demand that this book strongly embodies the spirit of Chinese national literary theory, taking pride in the profound, extensive, and glorious literary theory system of the Chinese nation. This is also due to the profound influence of the "Western-centric cultural theory" in the current field of literary theory (the beneficial components of Western literary theory should indeed be absorbed).