20th Century History of Ancient Chinese Literature Research -- Drama Volume

Author: Huang Lin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The study of ancient Chinese literature in the 20th century served as a bridge between the past and the future, representing both a new transformation for tradition and a transitional phase for what was to come. From the 1950s to the 1970s, political involvement on one hand fueled the popularity of certain research topics in ancient literature, such as Dream of the Red Chamber, which remained exceptionally prominent throughout this period. On the other hand, to avoid the sensitivity of studying contemporary issues, some scholars often turned to ancient literature as a relatively safe refuge, finding a place to settle and thrive there. It can be said that until the 1980s, the study of ancient Chinese literature was still considered a prominent field. However, by the end of the 20th century, politics seemed to have detached from literary studies, while the market economy dominated the superstructure, with utilitarianism flourishing, emphasizing materialism and pragmatism. As a result, humanities gradually fell into neglect.