History of Ancient Chinese Literature Research in the 20th Century (Poetry Volume)

Author: Huang Lin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: This book primarily studies the poetry of three major periods in ancient China: the pre-Qin, Han, Northern and Southern Dynasties period, the Tang Dynasty, and the Song, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. The research both inherits tradition and embraces openness. With novel perspectives and rich content, it is a praiseworthy achievement in the field of poetry. The study of ancient Chinese literature in the 20th century served as a bridge between the past and the future, introducing new changes to tradition and acting as a transition to what followed. From the 1950s to the 1970s, political involvement made certain topics in ancient literature exceptionally popular, such as Dream of the Red Chamber, which remained exceptionally significant throughout the decade. On the other hand, to avoid the sensitivity of researching contemporary issues, some scholars often turned to ancient literature as a relatively safe haven, finding comfort in its study. 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 research, while the market economy dominated the superstructure, leading to the rise of utilitarianism. Materialism and (prioritizing practical gains) became prevalent, gradually causing humanities to decline.