Yang Weizhen and Literary Thought of the Late Yuan and Early Ming

Author: Huang Rensheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: This book selects the important writer Yang Weizhen of the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties as a case study subject and conducts a systematic and in-depth research on him. From his political attitudes and ideological tendencies to his personality and literary beliefs, from his poems, odes, and vernacular essays to his qu and fiction, it provides meticulous exploration. This is a work that comprehensively and sufficiently discusses Yang Weizhen's literary thought and creative practice. The book connects the changes in social consciousness and literary trends from the early Yuan dynasty onwards, primarily focusing on Yang Weizhen's activities and influence as the central thread to deeply interpret the process and reasons behind the literary trends of the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. As a leading figure in the literary circles of the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, Yang Weizhen dedicated his life to the reform of traditional literary forms such as poems, odes, and vernacular essays. He was the most accomplished poet and master of odes in the Yuan dynasty. Particularly in the field of poetry, he advocated the movement of ancient yuefu and formed a large-scale "Iron Yaya" poetic school under his leadership, pushing the creation of late Yuan poetry to its peak. At the same time, in the face of the burgeoning drama, qu, and fiction in the Yuan dynasty, he also gave enthusiastic attention and support in theory, and achieved outstanding results in qu creation. The theoretical propositions and creative achievements of Yang Weizhen and his school provided a brilliant summary of the development of Yuan literature and directly opened up a new chapter for early Ming literature, indirectly influencing the theory and creation of literature in the middle and late Ming and Qing dynasties.