Theory of Momentum: Special Research on Ancient Chinese Literary Theory

Author: Di Huining
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-03-01
Features: The concept of "qi" () has existed in Chinese literary theory for thousands of years. As early as the pre-Qin period, "qi" appeared as a philosophical concept in numerous classics, initially referring to the primordial substance of the material world. Later, "qi" entered the realm of the spiritual, signifying human spiritual strength. During the Wei and Jin periods, Cao Pi proposed the idea of "literature being governed by qi," pioneering the use of "qi" to discuss literature and endowing it with richer aesthetic significance. Thereafter, countless scholars, writers, and poets rowed forward, pushing the tide of literary theory centered on "qi," guiding the journey of the "qi" theory from "qi" to "literary qi" (), then to "qi-shi" (), and ultimately to the unity of "qi" and "shi" (), making it an extremely important aesthetic category throughout the history of Chinese literary theory. However, in this long process of theoretical exploration and practical creation, the discussions on "qi-shi" by various scholars were often vague, abstract, and mystical, sometimes even confined to the realm of style and appearance. This book cites a vast amount of literary theory materials and specific works, systematically organizing and researching fundamental issues of the "qi-shi" theory from aspects such as essence, characteristics, types, and cultural spirit, making them clear, well-structured, and further uncovering their theoretical value and practical significance.