9.An Outstanding Literature Work—Carving a Dragon at the Core of Literature

Western literary critics cannot ignore Aristotle's On Poetry (亚里士多德的《诗学》), and scholars studying ancient Chinese literary criticism cannot put aside Liu Xie's Carving a Dragon at the Core of Literature (刘勰的《文心雕龙》).It is the first comprehensive and systematic book devoted to literary theories and criticism in ancient China, and the greatest classic in the history of Chinese literary criticism.

Carving a Dragon at the Core of Literature took shape in 501 and comprises 50 chapters.A book with a strict theoretical system, it was claimed by a scholar Zhang Xuecheng (章学诚)in the Qing Dynasty to be“large in size and comprehensive in content.”The book can be divided into two parts.Among the 25 chapters of the first part, the first five are mainly concerned with the basic principles of literature, while the final 20 make a detailed analysis of the development of the 30-odd styles and their characteristics. The second part discusses the theoretical problems in literary creation, literary criticism, literary development, and the abilities and self-accomplishments of writers.What we should point out is that the Chinese character in the title of the book does not mean only“literature”but any writing in a wider sense.Therefore, in discussing literary styles, the author includes many literary forms that we do not regard today as literature.

Carving a Dragon at the Core of Literature summarizes the experiences in literary creativity before the Qi and Liang dynasties and gives definition to a series of important concepts in literature, which have created a profound influence on the development of ancient Chinese aesthetics and literary theory.In terms of the many literary issues later writers have debated, people may find their origins here in the book.At present, the study of this book has drawn attention from the world, and there is even a special term for it—“the Study of the Dragon.”

New Words and Expressions

Exercise One

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

1.Carving a Dragon at the Core of Literature is one of the most important books on literary theories and criticism in ancient China.

2.Carving a Dragon at the Core of Literature consists of 501 chapters.

3.Among the 25 chapters of the first part of the book Carving a Dragon at the Core of Literature, the first five make a detailed analysis of the development of the 30-odd styles and their characteristics.

4.The Chinese character in the title of the book Carving a Dragon at the Core of Literature refers exactly to“literature.”

5.“The Study of the Dragon”shows that Carving a Dragon at the Core of Literature it is a very important book on Chinese literature.

Exercise Two

Directions:Answer the following questions.

1.When did Carving a Dragon at the Core of Literature take shape?

2.What did the Qing-Dynasty scholar Zhang Xuecheng claim the book to be?

3.Why did the book create a profound influence on the development of ancient Chinese aesthetics and literary theories?