Selected Prose Works of Dai Mingshi

Author: Dai Mingshi (Qing Dynasty);
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Dai Mingshi achieved significant accomplishments in both literature and history. His prose, as seen in The Collection of Southern Mountains, developed along the path of the Ming Dynasty Tang-Song School, showcasing distinct characteristics. He maintained close ties with Fang Bao of the Tongcheng School and his theories on prose had a notable influence on the development of the Tongcheng School's classical literature. He believed that writing should prioritize "substance, spirit, and vigor," with language and style being secondary (as stated in Reply to Zhang and Wu). He also argued that the essence of a work lies in its "principle and reasoning," while "tone" is merely subordinate (Preface to the Selection of Short Essays from the Ming Dynasty). He advocated for writing that is natural and straightforward yet meaningful, opposing ornate imitation and theft of ideas, asserting that "natural writing" is the highest standard for literature. He maintained that only by focusing on "substance and spirit" can one achieve the realm of "naturalness." At the same time, he pointed out that natural writing must also possess all three elements of "principle, method, and expression"—that is, perfect harmony among ideological content, structural principles, and language—where none can be lacking (Letters to Liu Yanjie, Preface to the Small Essays in the Jimei Handscroll, etc.). All these theories laid a solid foundation for the formation of the Tongcheng School.