Evolving practices of Guan and Liu Xie's theory of literary interpretation

Document Type

Book chapter

Source Publication

Interpretation and literature in early medieval China

Publication Date

1-1-2010

First Page

103

Last Page

132

Publisher

State University of New York Press

Abstract

An in-depth exploration of early interpretive practices and views is particularly important to a study of the development of the guanwen 觀文 (observing belles lettres) tradition during the Six Dynasties. In theorizing about the newly established guanwen tradition, Liu Xie 劉勰 (ca. 465 – ca. 532) draws extensively from those interpretive practices and views and formulates a comprehensive theory of literary interpretation in “The One Who Knows the Tones” (“Zhiyin” 知音), the forty-eighth chapter of his magnum opus Wenxin diaolong 文心雕龍 (Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons). Liu Xie’s debt to those early interpretive practices and views is much greater than commonly acknowledged. By investigating this debt, I seek to demonstrate not only the genesis of Liu’s theory but also the interconnectedness of all the interpretive practices and views examined. This, I hope, will shed light on the evolution of interpretive traditions in ancient and early medieval China.

Publisher Statement

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Additional Information

ISBN of the source publication: 9781438432182

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Cai, Z.-q. (2010). Evolving practices of Guan and Liu Xie's theory of literary interpretation. In A. K. L. Chan & Y.-k. Lo (Eds.), Interpretation and literature in early medieval China (pp. 103-132). Albany: State University of New York Press.

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