Masterclass on Famous Topics -- Ten Arguments on the Origin of Classical Literature and Buddhism

Author: Chen Yunji
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-11-01
Features: The "Xuanyan Poetry" in the history of Chinese literature, as defined by its specific meaning, refers to poetry that emerged in the mid-Eastern Jin Dynasty and extensively expounded on the principles of metaphysics, resulting in its content becoming indistinguishable from the prevailing Qingtan (Neo-Daoist) discussions. The creative trend accompanying such works was a negative outcome of Eastern Jin Dynasty's Xuantan (Neo-Daoist) debates. Although it once dominated the poetic scene, it clearly showed signs of declining momentum, reflecting an unsuccessful attempt to simply transplant metaphysical ideas into poetry. The content of this book includes an introduction, the development of the seven-character verse form in Eastern Jin Xuanyan Poetry and Buddhist incantations, an exploration and analysis of the origins of the Wang Fanzhi legend, an interpretation of the symbolic meaning of Wang Wei's "Bananas in Snow," Wang Wei and the Buddhist monk Daoguang of the Huayan School, an examination of the composition of the "Story of the Joyful King" in relation to the "Song of Everlasting Sorrow," a discussion on the influence of Tang Dynasty temple murals on Han Yu's poetry, Han Yu's "Nan Shan Po" and the esoteric "Mandala Painting" of the Esoteric Buddhism, Li He and the "Lengya Sutra," the Buddhist influence on Liu Zongyuan's fables, and the origins and evolution of the "Donkey from Qianzhou" story. It is well-known that the two great treasures of Chinese literature, the Book of Songs and the Chu Ci, have long been the ideal goals for scholars in this land to pursue the refinement of literary beauty, and have been revered as the undying ancestors of Chinese poetry for generations. According to the traditional views inherited in China, poetry is primarily used for expressing emotions, stating intentions, and depicting objects, rather than for elaborating on abstract theories. The prose of the pre-Qin and Han dynasties could accommodate different connotations such as literature and philosophy, but philosophical ideas could not enter the sacred ground of poetry.