Two different Perspective on the Development of Prose during Ming and Qing Dynasty and the Relationship between Classical Prose and Familiar Essay

Abstract

During the new culture movement, Chou Tso-jen(周作人) was dissatisfied with the discussion of the development of prose from Ming and Qing Dynasty by general scholars. He considered these discussions have denied the prose from late Ming Dynasty. In addition, regarding proses from Qing Dynasty, they overgeneralized them as the Tongcheng School(桐城派). However, Chou didn’t recognize such a classification. Therefore, he promoted late Ming Dynasty Familiar essay and advocated the literature thoughts from the Gong’an School(公安派). He even regarded these literature thoughts the same as those from the new culture movement. His idea has exerted an impactful influence to the field. Ever since then, scholars who discussed prose from Ming and Qing Dynasty couldn’t avoid mentioning familiar essay. Most of the works from history of Chinese literature put an emphasis to prose from Ming and Qing Dynasty, especially Familiar essay from that period. However, this situation was caused by the competition of two kinds of literature thoughts, zai-dao（載道）and lyric. In fact, the problems are: which kind of literature thought is more accurate? How to describe the prose development during Ming and Qing Dynasty fairly and accurately? And how to distinguish the relationship between Classical Prose and Familiar essay? Starting from Chou’s dissatisfaction with discussion on Ming and Qing prose, this study aims to sort out the two discussions on the development of prose during Ming and Qing Dynasty and discuss the literature thoughts behind it. The findings point out that although the discussion of the dichotomy of yan-zhi(言志) and zai-dao by Chou was not accurate, it is still meaningful to the prose development during Ming and Qing Dynasty: Based on the analysis of the Classical Prose thoughts from authors of Familiar essay and the Familiar essays written by Classical Prose authors, I argue that the tensed relations between Familiar essay and Classical Prose was not as contradictory as what Chou described. However, his emphasis on tensed relations between yan-zhi and zai-dao is the major motivation of the prose development during Ming and Qing Dynasty.