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The Resource From historicity to fictionality : the Chinese poetics of narrative, Sheldon Hsiao-peng Lu

From historicity to fictionality : the Chinese poetics of narrative, Sheldon Hsiao-peng Lu

Creator
Summary
  • In the past several decades, one of the most prominent developments in Western literary studies has been the intense interest in "narrative theory" and the study of narrative in general. The Western poetics of narrative dates back to Plato and Aristotle, and developed out of the unique philosophical and literary background of the West. The author suggests that a richer, more general, comparative poetics of narrative can be achieved by encompassing non-Western narrative traditions, such as that of China
  • This is the first comprehensive work in English on the complex history and theory of traditional Chinese narrative. It describes the major Chinese conventions and strategies for interpreting narrative works, both historical and fictional, from the earliest narratives through those of the Ching dynasty. For most of China's recorded history, historical authenticity and factual accuracy were paramount in the production and reception of narrative texts. Fictional narratives were theorized and judged in accordance with the standards of historical narratives. In short, narrative was history, and fiction was defective history. Furthermore, the state made great efforts to control fiction by suppression (censorship) and disavowal (denigration and trivialization)
  • It was only with the widespread popularity of novels in the Ming and Ching dynasties that Chinese theorists were able to come to terms with fiction and dehistoricize the poetics of narrative by allowing and recognizing invention and fabrication in narrative texts. At this time, the Chinese poetics of narrative moved away from the long-held centrality of historicity, and critics acknowledged that good fiction can penetrate the nature and feelings of human beings in ways that other writings cannot, and that a reader is able to discover the uttermost principles of life in fiction just as in the Confucian classics and historical writings. Narrative was no longer assigned the function it had, for some 2,000 years, of being a "factual record" or "credible history." Its existence was justified because it conjured up a world that was lifelike and credible
  • In the process of tracing the long history of Chinese narrative, the author employs both Chinese and Western theoretical writings to chart convergences and differences in Chinese and Western literary theory and criticism
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
viii, 213 pages
Contents
  • 1. Rectifying the Terms, I: "Narrative," "History," and "Fiction" in the West
  • 2. Rectifying the Terms, II: "Narrative," "History," and "Fiction" in China
  • 3. Chinese Historical Interpretation in the Reading of Narrative
  • 4. The Poetics of Historiography
  • 5. Reading Tang Fiction as History, Allegory, and Fantasy
  • 6. From Historicity to Verisimilitude: The Emergence of a Poetics of Fiction in China
  • Postscript: Storytelling and Critical Paradigms in the Study of Chinese Narrative
Isbn
9780804723190
Instance
Label
From historicity to fictionality : the Chinese poetics of narrative
Title
From historicity to fictionality
Title remainder
the Chinese poetics of narrative
Statement of responsibility
Sheldon Hsiao-peng Lu
Creator
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
  • In the past several decades, one of the most prominent developments in Western literary studies has been the intense interest in "narrative theory" and the study of narrative in general. The Western poetics of narrative dates back to Plato and Aristotle, and developed out of the unique philosophical and literary background of the West. The author suggests that a richer, more general, comparative poetics of narrative can be achieved by encompassing non-Western narrative traditions, such as that of China
  • This is the first comprehensive work in English on the complex history and theory of traditional Chinese narrative. It describes the major Chinese conventions and strategies for interpreting narrative works, both historical and fictional, from the earliest narratives through those of the Ching dynasty. For most of China's recorded history, historical authenticity and factual accuracy were paramount in the production and reception of narrative texts. Fictional narratives were theorized and judged in accordance with the standards of historical narratives. In short, narrative was history, and fiction was defective history. Furthermore, the state made great efforts to control fiction by suppression (censorship) and disavowal (denigration and trivialization)
  • It was only with the widespread popularity of novels in the Ming and Ching dynasties that Chinese theorists were able to come to terms with fiction and dehistoricize the poetics of narrative by allowing and recognizing invention and fabrication in narrative texts. At this time, the Chinese poetics of narrative moved away from the long-held centrality of historicity, and critics acknowledged that good fiction can penetrate the nature and feelings of human beings in ways that other writings cannot, and that a reader is able to discover the uttermost principles of life in fiction just as in the Confucian classics and historical writings. Narrative was no longer assigned the function it had, for some 2,000 years, of being a "factual record" or "credible history." Its existence was justified because it conjured up a world that was lifelike and credible
  • In the process of tracing the long history of Chinese narrative, the author employs both Chinese and Western theoretical writings to chart convergences and differences in Chinese and Western literary theory and criticism
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Lu, Sheldon H
Index
index present
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Chinese fiction
  • Narration (Rhetoric)
  • China
Label
From historicity to fictionality : the Chinese poetics of narrative, Sheldon Hsiao-peng Lu
Instantiates
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages [183]-196) and indexes
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
1. Rectifying the Terms, I: "Narrative," "History," and "Fiction" in the West -- 2. Rectifying the Terms, II: "Narrative," "History," and "Fiction" in China -- 3. Chinese Historical Interpretation in the Reading of Narrative -- 4. The Poetics of Historiography -- 5. Reading Tang Fiction as History, Allegory, and Fantasy -- 6. From Historicity to Verisimilitude: The Emergence of a Poetics of Fiction in China -- Postscript: Storytelling and Critical Paradigms in the Study of Chinese Narrative
Control code
28708718
Dimensions
23 cm
Extent
viii, 213 pages
Isbn
9780804723190
Isbn Type
(alk. paper)
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
System control number
(WaOLN)1606796
Label
From historicity to fictionality : the Chinese poetics of narrative, Sheldon Hsiao-peng Lu
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages [183]-196) and indexes
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
1. Rectifying the Terms, I: "Narrative," "History," and "Fiction" in the West -- 2. Rectifying the Terms, II: "Narrative," "History," and "Fiction" in China -- 3. Chinese Historical Interpretation in the Reading of Narrative -- 4. The Poetics of Historiography -- 5. Reading Tang Fiction as History, Allegory, and Fantasy -- 6. From Historicity to Verisimilitude: The Emergence of a Poetics of Fiction in China -- Postscript: Storytelling and Critical Paradigms in the Study of Chinese Narrative
Control code
28708718
Dimensions
23 cm
Extent
viii, 213 pages
Isbn
9780804723190
Isbn Type
(alk. paper)
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
System control number
(WaOLN)1606796

Subject

Genre

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