Nanjing Cultural Chronicle (Volume 1 & 2)

Author: Xu Yaixin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: Ancient Jinling, dominating the eastern bank of the Yangtze River, surrounded by mountains and waters, and blessed with natural beauty. With a development history of 6,000 years, a city history of over 2,460 years, and the capital history of ten dynasties—Eastern Wu, Eastern Jin, Song, Qi, Liang, Chen, Southern Tang, Ming, Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and the Republic of China—this land has nurtured a dazzling regional culture and composed a timeless chapter of civilization. The Beiyanyingying culture and Zangmiao culture type culture pioneers the history of Nanjing's civilization. The Luhu culture and Wu-Yue culture, blending north and south while embracing east and west, exhibit unique characteristics. The Six Dynasties culture, inheriting the Han and Wei dynasties and paving the way for the Sui and Tang dynasties, saw the convergence and fusion of various cultures, with humanistic spirit flourishing. Literary theory, painting, calligraphy, and bibliology were at the forefront of their time, while music, dance, and acrobatics led the trend. The Southern Tang culture, carrying forward the legacy of the Six Dynasties, was marked by calligraphy, painting, painting critiques, and painting theories, all imbued with literary charm. The later ruler's lyrics and quatrains became an eternal masterpiece. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Nanjing's arts flourished, with architecture, literature, music, and opera reaching their zenith. Quyi matured, and masters of painting and calligraphy emerged one after another, showcasing the glory of Chinese feudal society's late-period cultural arts. However, this also foreshadowed its stagnation, rigidity, and decline. The New Culture Movement of the Republic of China swept across the land with overwhelming force. As the capital, Nanjing played a prominent role in this cultural transformation, with art, music, theater, film, and quyi setting new trends and achieving remarkable success, forming a tripod of cultural power alongside Beijing and Shanghai. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, socialist culture flourished vigorously. Art, dance, music, and acrobatics broke new ground and developed distinct styles, while plays and operas produced masterpieces with far-reaching influence. Especially since the reform and opening-up, with political stability and economic prosperity, cultural arts have undergone comprehensive innovation and development, yielding abundant results. Looking back at history, tracing its roots, exploring the origins of the cultural characteristics of the ten dynasties' capital, examining the trajectories of cultural changes across dynasties, seeking signs of cultural integration between ancient and modern times, and studying the patterns of Nanjing's regional cultural development—through documentation and compilation, this book has been created. It is hoped that its publication will not only serve the present but also benefit future generations.