| With regard to both quantity and quality of literature creations, most researchers conclude that literature was on the wane towards the end of the Yuan Dynasty according to the objective facts reflected by extant materials about poetic dramas and non-dramatic songs of the end of the Yuan Dynasty. However, when we look through poetry materials of that time, it is can be actually found that literati at the time, especially literati in the South of the River, were very active and achieved something on literature not to be ignored. Gu Sili acclaimed this period as one "with redoubled geniuses".The period of Zhizheng(1341-1368)towards the end of the Yuan Dynasty was specific historic stage formed after along time with collision and conflict between Hans' ethical culture and prairie culture. The South of the River at the time was a haunt of literati. There were literati who retired by going into beautiful mountains, converted to Buddhism or being school teachers, who scrupulously abided by their officials' duty and died willingly for Yuan Dynasty, who refused to cooperate with the new court after Yuan fell down and were willingly to be Yuan's adherents, who dealt with the new dynasty courteously but without sincerity and played safe worldly-wisely, as well who made correct assessment of the situation and rechose newmasters......During the last stage of Yuan Dynasty full of exceptional talents, literati withdifferent thought and cultural background sought respectively for their suitable positions in the chaotic court and mountain forest, hence the literati's vogue of the special times and cultural background developed. What literati in the South of the River advocated towards the end of the Yuan Dynasty not only affected their own life styles, but also developed various literary styles and features. Noticeably, the new vogue that scholars related closely with traders and literati of various nationalities communicated with each other also made literati's creation appear a new atmosphere totally different from before. The diversity of literati's vogue produced a new relatively active literary atmosphere. It was on such a base that the literature towards the end of the Yuan Dynasty developed to prosperous. |
