The Formation Of The Theory Of Southern And Northern School,1537-1610

The theory of southern and northern school is the most important theory of Chineseart history. It has been almost four hundred years since it emerged in late Ming, andhaving a deep effect on today’s idea and practice. But the arguments about its valuenever stop, and the problem of the man who really first invented it has even beenargued from the beginning of the last century till now. This dissertation aims to traceits process of formation by building the chain of people in a period of time, so as tobreak the old methods focusing on Mo Shilong or Dong Chichang, and then a newsight for the research of this theory comes out. Through the analysis of both outer andinner evidence, the publication of book and the development of idea containing in theinscriptions, books and letters, I find that the theory of southern and northern schoolwas first invented by Mo Shilong. But his early death kept this theory spreading outonly after the work of HuaShuo being compiled by Dong Chichang and Chen Jiru.And the repeatedly republication and quotation finally made the theory of southernand northern school become the hotter and hotter idea. So, a relatively plaint theory ofdichotomy gradually became a kind of slogan of movement with the more and moreintense fight between Songjiang and Wumen. And Dong Chichang of great reputationof politics gradually became the spokesman of the theory of southern and northernschool instead of Mo Shilong who was only a scholar never being in government. Thedissertation about the period of1537-1610aims to reveal the process how the theoryof southern and northern school came into being and changed from a name ofdichotomy to a slogan of movement.