Classical lyric modernities: Poetics, gender, and politics in modern China (1900--1937) (Chen Sanli, Zhu Zumou, Lu Bicheng)

This dissertation examines the transformation of classical-style poetry in twentieth-century China and its complex relationship with the development of modern culture. This work has two objectives. The first of these is to challenge the May Fourth view of the demise of classical language and its inimicality to modernization, thus, hopefully, instigating a programmatic change in the field of modern Chinese literature today; Second, I would like to draw attention to the failure of most contemporary literary criticism and cultural studies in recognizing the significant contributions that lyric poetry has made to modern nationalism, theories of modernity, and gender issues. Through analysis of the works of Chen Sanli (1852--1937), Zhu Zumou (1837--1931) and Lu Bicheng (1883--1943), I will attempt to illustrate the persistent and innovative practices of classical-style poetry and delve into the question of what transformations this time-honored poetic tradition underwent from the end of the Qing dynasty and to the Republican period. In doing so, I hope to reevaluate the multifaceted roles of tradition as a force that shaped modern consciousness and offer different conceptions of Chinese literary modernities.