Seven Essays on Chinese Literature

Author: Liu Lisheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: A complete history of Chinese literature and a complete outline of Chinese literature are not the same thing. The former are organized with time as the longitude and genre as the latitude; the latter are organized with genre as the longitude and time as the latitude. The functions of these two books are complementary and indispensable. This book is based on the Outline of Chinese Literature, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding and precise knowledge of Chinese literature. Regarding the classification of literature, we focus on genre, origin, and evolution. As for the criticism of writers and works, we emphasize the overall style and individual styles. All criticisms adopt an objective attitude, free from bias. – Liu Lisheng
The authors of this book are renowned scholars from the Republican era, with a deep foundation in traditional Chinese studies. At the time when the modern discipline of literary research was taking shape, they attempted to discuss Chinese literature comprehensively under seven themes. The book is divided into seven parts, in addition to the general introduction, covering essays, parallel prose, fiction, poetry, drama, literary trends, and more. It is one of the earliest systematic discussions of Chinese literature and can be considered a pioneering work in the modern discipline of Chinese literary history.