Draft on Western Han Literary Theory

Author: Wang Lin, Xing Peishun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: This thesis is specifically dedicated to interpreting Western Han literature, aiming to further expand and develop upon the work of previous scholars. Broadly speaking, its first objective is to broaden the scope of authors covered. Han Yu once remarked, "No one in the Han Dynasty was unable to write," though the statement may be somewhat exaggerated, it is also a fact that the number of literati during that time surpassed previous eras. Therefore, extensively exploring the creative activities of these literati is an important and effective way to approach and reveal the true state of the literary scene at the time. This book discusses nearly sixty Western Han literati of various levels, with the corresponding text expanding to four hundred thousand words, in order to describe the richness and diversity of prose creation over two hundred and thirty years. It emphasizes the evolution of collective literary styles, as well as the comparison of thematic orientations and stylistic differences among individual creations within a group. The second objective is to strengthen the exploration of the influence and penetration of the mainstream literary form of fu poetry on the literary style of the time, as well as the reflection of the era's atmosphere and cultural connotations in the texts, in order to highlight the social literary atmosphere of the Western Han Dynasty, such as its majestic authority, confident spirit, the expansion of the fu form, and the flourishing of Confucianism. The third objective is to enhance the artistic analysis of the texts and their significance in the historical development of their respective literary genres. The fourth objective is to focus on the examination of the relationship between the personalities of the authors and their literary styles, as well as the authentication of certain works. During the writing process, the authors adhere to the basic principle that where previous scholars have elaborated extensively, the authors will be brief; where previous scholars have been brief or silent, the authors will provide detailed explanations.