The Literary Criticism In Pre-qin Period And Han Dynasty

The origin of the literary criticism in China should be born in the age that “the Book of Songs” was written. That is to say, it can traces back to the pre-Qin period. When foreign learners come to learn Chinese in China, they should know that the literary criticism had a very close relationship with the theories of the philosophers in ancient times.

Many things became the important elements of the theories of literary criticism such as the relationships between human and nature, between poem and music as well as beauty and kindness and so on. The book “shang shu•yao dian” is the foundation of the literary criticism theories in China. The famous philosophers like Confucius, Mengzi, Zhunagzi and Xunzi all agreed what the t book said.

Most foreigners who are interested in Chinese culture when they learn Chinese in China all know that Confucius proposed the ideas like “ren”, “li”, “yue” and “zhong yong” and so on, which had great influence on the literary criticism of the later generations. His standard for the literary criticism is “to reach the acme of perfection” and on the basis of “ren”. It is reflected in “the Analects of Confucius”.

In addition, the Mohist School also emphasized the argumentation skill and the logic of the language. The thought of “humanity” held by Mengzi and the theories in “yi jing” also had important influence on the later literary criticism. Those who study Mandarin in China should know that the literary criticism of Zhuangzi is not like that of Confucius. Confucius criticized practically with target but Zhuangzi criticized in theory.

In the early period of Han Dynasty, the Emperor Wu only attached importance to the Confucian School. From then on, the Confucian became the thought ruling thoughts that ruled the ancient society. It was also became the leading thought of the literary criticism in ancient China.

Another point that the students should know when they learn Chinese in China is that the Songs of Chu had great influence on the literary criticism in Han Dynasty. It gradually developed from the scattered theories to systematic comments. The book “shi da xu” was an early book for literary criticism but the simplex objects. But many books about literary criticism appeared later.

There are more theories about the literary criticism in ancient China. But all above are just the theories in pre Qin Dynasty and Dynasty. They are the earliest theories about the literary criticism.

By: Kayla Liu

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Kayla Liu is the academic advisor at Keats School and has been teaching Chinese language and Chinese culture for 5 years. Keats Chinese Language School offers Chinese learning programs and courses to learn and study Mandarin Chinese language in China. If you want to study in China, welcome to check out Keats School.