| This dissertation examines the caizi-jiaren xiaoshuo, a genre that developed between the seventeenth century and century and has been translated as Scholar-Beauty Romance.;Based on my reading of caizi-jiaren novels from this genre, argue that most authors attempted to make up for their failure in the civil service examinations, official careers, and marriages through the adventures of the caizi who were enormously successful in each of these three areas. The caizi-jiaren novels were published by over 100 publishing houses, a sign of their popularity and large audiences.;The caizi-jiaren novels were not simply "pop fiction," but instead were vitally concerned with the role and image of the literati in Qing society. Early literary commentators of the caizi-jiaren novels highlighted literary talent, cai, above all. This contrasts with the emphasis on the emotional experience, qing, of Tang Xianzu (1550-1616) and the "study of the mind" of Wang Yangming (1472-1529). Yet, from the seventeenth century to nineteenth century, the ideal scholar increasingly combined both civil and military talent. This shift was a reflection of increased social unrest, the great military expeditions of the Qing Emperor, and the Manchu's martial tradition.;While caizi-jiaren novels were criticized by Cao Xueqing (1715?-1763?), author of the masterpiece Honglou meng, I argue that in fact Cao Xueqin was influenced by several elements of the caizi-jiaren novel. These include the qualities of the protagonists, the fateful first meeting between the scholar and the beauty, the importance of the poetry society, the function of the garden, and the use of the song sequences. |
