A Narrative Study On Dream-Written In Chinese Ancient Novels

This paper studies on dream-written in Chinese ancient novels after a thoroughly investigation on those related contexts, through diachronic comparison and examination to search its development orbit on the standpoint of narratives, comparing those narrative features on different historical stages, positioning the value of dream-written in Chinese novel development history.It divides the whole Chinese ancient dream-related novels into four sequence development stages : the embryonic period before Tang Dynasty, the pioneering period in Tang Dynasty, retrogression period in Song and Yuan Dynasty, and the development maturity period in Ming and Qing dynasty. Contexts includes chaptersⅠtoⅣ.Previous of the appearance of legendary novel of Tang Dynasty, novels involved dream-written, generally reflected kind of dream–is- true idea, dreams were plain, and delivered straightforward, without any modifying, embodying its early features of dream-written in Chinese ancient novels. But to the later time of this period, some narrative germ characterized of later stage sprouted, touch of humanity and religious emerged from those dream-written which though still full of mysterious. Narrative techniques become complicated, creators have had a hazy consciousness to make use of dream materials to help promoting plot and accomplish the theme of stories.In Tang Dynasty, there is a great leap both in ideology and writing practice .Writing rang on dreams widely expanded with lots of new themes of dream created ,writing techniques greatly refined and enhanced accompanied with boosting creation passion and power. Most importantly, "dreams" firstly stepped out of the "authenticity" shackles, becoming one other aesthetic object to be performed. In their dream-writing, the novelist, even if not yet fully discovered all the mysteries of fiction, but for the fun of bold fiction, reasonable imaginary, they must get fully understanding. Moreover, they began to grasp those basic methods to turn the fictional text into literature real story.In Song and Yuan Dynasties, with the whole novel literary sunk to the bottom, dreams related novels also lapsed to its early time. odd prophecy,divination, magical dream-come- true stories, once again become the main content of dream writing. Development of narrative hardly made due to those conservatism on novel practice----slavishly following their predecessors, inclining to preach under meantime's stiff moral code. But a further secularization on contents and popularization in words, indicate a later developing trend on novels writing.In Ming Qing Dynasties, an all round development on dream-written and most notable achievements achieved: Classical short novels invariably strengthened connection between dream and reality ; In middle and long novels , the narrative technique further enriched and refined, and , those ontological characteristics of dream have been successfully used to weave grander narrative project, to meet larger narrative ambitions. Amazing dream worlds have been created, influencing strongly on what followed. The author picks XiYouBu and A Dream of Red Mansions out as their best to give a further look.The last part, the author summarizes three trends of dream-written development in Chinese ancient novels: the fictional nature gradually increased; a closer trend back to nature life and human; narrative power gradually grew. This part also analyses the interaction between dream-written and traditional Chinese fiction narration.