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
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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.