7.Classical Prose (Part Two)

During the period of the Wei, Jin and Northern and Southern dynasties, pianwen (骈文，rhyming prose characterized by parallelism and ornateness)prevailed and prose declined.But Li Daoyuan's (郦道元)Commentary on the Waterways Classics (《水经注》)still contained beautiful and unaffected narration, expression and landscape description.

Han Yu (韩愈)of the Tang Dynasty opposed the affected pianwen and advocated classical prose.Many writers followed Han Yu's call and began to create prose of classical style.Later Han Yu's call for classical prose creation received further support from Liu Zongyuan (柳宗元)and thus gained even wider influence.For a time, classical prose dominated literary creation.This came to be called the Revival of Classical Prose in Chinese literary history.

The Classical Revival Movement(古文运动)declined after the mid-Tang Dynasty, but was advocated again by Ouyang Xiu (欧阳修)in the Song Dynasty and followed by Wang Anshi (王安石), Zeng Gong (曾巩), Su Xun (苏洵), Su Shi (苏轼)and Su Zhe (苏辙), who all made great achievements under the influence of classicism.The six writers together with Han Yu and Liu Zouyuan later came to be known as the Eight Great Men of Letters of the Tang and Song Dynasties (唐宋八大家).

Sima Guang (司马光), a historical writer of the Northern Song Dynasty, compiled the great work ComprehensiveMirrorforAid in Government (《资 治 通鉴》), which is of both great historical and literary value.

New Words

Exercise One

Directions:Decide whether the following statements are true or false.

1.Prose prevailed in the Wei, Jin and Southern dynasties compared to pianwen.

2.Han Yu of the Tang Dynasty preferred unaffected classical prose.

3.The Classical Revival Movement declined after the Song Dynasty.

4.Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan were well known as two of the Eight Great Men of Letters of the Tang Dynasty.

5.Sima Guang was a historical writer of the Southern Song Dynasty.

Exercise Two

Directions:Answer the following questions.

1.What style of classics prevailed during the period of the Wei, Jin and Northern and Southern dynasties?

2.Since when did many writers begin to create classical style prose?

3.What is the Revival of Classical Prose?

4. Please describe in detail one of the Eight Great Men of Letters of the Tang and Song Dynasties.

5.Who was a representative historical writer of the Northern Song Dynasty?