Theory and Anecdote in Chinese Poetics: the Trajectory of Remarks on Poetry in Song Dynasty China

This dissertation is about Shihua ("Remarks on Poetry"), a literary genre that arose in the early Northern Song period and became the most widely practiced form of literary criticism throughout the later imperial dynasties. My chronological focus is the three hundred years from 1000 C.E. through the thirteenth century, during which the subject of my dissertation, remarks on poetry, emerged as a new form of literary criticism. Although most of the previous studies were focused on the origins and precursors from which the shihua form came into existence, my purpose is instead to make a tentative exploration of the trajectory of its chronological development occurring in the Song dynasty. The selection of topics in each chapter is guided by my intention to look into every important phase in the development of the genre and to examine its most representative works. It is also my intention to explore the relationship between the shihua genre as a form of literary criticism and the contemporary practice of literary composition, and furthermore, to answer the question of how this relationship helps define the shihua genre in the context of Chinese literary and cultural history in the Song dynasty. Therefore, a comprehensive survey of Song dynasty poetic history will be found in my dissertation as well.;My dissertation involves case studies that constitute thorough research on five particular works of remarks on poetry. My conclusion is that although it was Ouyang Xiu's (the first writer of the shihua genre) original intention to create a peculiar literary form that would be independent of the traditional ones to accommodate anecdotal writings and cause them to be circulated among literati as a pastime, the later trajectory of the genre went against his intent. It arises from a humble beginning with fragmentary expressions, but develops systematic and structured argumentation in its full maturity. In the meantime, the narrative portion, originally consisting mostly of anecdotal writings, was replaced by serious theoretical discussion and critical thinking on general statements concerning literary phenomena. Whether good or bad, these transformations reflect the shift of the literati's attitude toward poetry, literary history, criticism, and their response towards ongoing social reforms. They were also the outcome of the interaction between multiple impulses such as sociopolitical vicissitudes and intellectual evolution.