Chinese Modern Poetic Thought With Research

In the past two hundred or more years, Ci (a kind of poetry) writing has developed in a steady way. Nevertheless, the theory of Ci writing has changed greatly and a transition from its traditional stage to modern stage has been completed.There are three periods in the process of transition. The first is the flourishing period of traditional theory which was represented by Zhang Huiyan, Zhou Ji and Tan Xian and other theorists of Changzhou School, who established a series of watertight and systematic theories. In this period the defects of scholastic atmosphere of Qianjia School began to be recognized and the study of Confucian classics of Song Dynasty began to call people's attention again. Consequently, the ideological trend of putting the governing study into practice was formed. In this cultural background, Changzhou School was established, whose constructors and important members had close relations with the study of Confucian classics, and some of them like Zhang Huiyan, Song Xiangfeng, etc. were the masters in this field. The study of Confucian classics had great influence on the theory of Ci writing in this period. The second is the transforming period of traditional theory represented by Wang Guowei and Liang Qichao, whose theories of Ci writing were the continuity of the traditional theory and began to transform from it, mixed with the colour of the age and demonstrating the clash and supplement between western and Chinese culture. Their theories showed basic characteristics of transition from traditional theory to modern theory. Generally speaking, Liang Qichao's theory accepted a social critical method, which was connected with traditional poetry theory, with his special status as a social activist, a politician and a scholar and with the literary trend of emphasizing its social function at the time. As for the method of Ci study, he followed Francis Bacon's philosophy, emphasizing authentic proof and turning the traditional method into a scientific way. Wang Guowei's theory accepted the traditional Ci criticism form which was rather random than systematic and was obviously influenced by western philosophical thoughts and artistic thoughts. His theory was a milestone of the transition from traditional theory to modern theory. The third is the establishing period of modern theory. The new cultural thoughts of the May 4th Movement changed Chinese literary world thoroughly. Although Ci writing still stuck to the traditional way, the theory of Ci writing changed tremendously. The great change was mainly reflected by the study structure which was divided into three parts: the traditional theorists who represented the tributary of the study according to the development of Ci theory, though whosestudy made some great achievements; theorists of "new culture" like Hu Shi, who put the traditional theory on the background of new culture and accepted the method of authentic proving; modern theorists like Xia Chengdao, Tang Guizhang and Long Yusheng who represented the mainstream of modem theory and completed the transition from the traditional theory to modem theory.