A Study Of Xu Wei's Poetry And Prose

Xu Wei, as a distinguished writer, operatic poet, calligraphist and painter in the 16~th century china, is an incarnation of heredity in the neoclassical period of Ming Dynasty. With the unique personality and creative spontaneity, he shakes to no small extent the traditional artistic view, and plays the role an s forunner of the literary circle in the Late Ming. The thesisi intends to have a systematic study and interpretation of his works in terms of his mental course and literary ideas, and thus to evaluate his literary status in the Ming Dynasty.The first chapter aims at exploring Xu Wei's mental experience. His abnormal family background breeds depression and sensitivity in his character. The Buddist and Taoistic influence strengthens his maintenance of his self-identity and self-dignity, the ups and douns of his political career in the Hu Zongxian's government. Leads to his mental perverseness in middle age, which is responsible for his insaneness, suicide and corniced. His confrontation against the society in old age shows the overbearing side in his personality. The second chapter analyzes Xu Wei's artistic view. Xu Wei criticizes and defies the neoclassical theories and establishes the theoretic foundations for new poetic principles and artistic tastes. The third chapter interprets his poetry. His poetry can be classified into two groups in terms of theme-political poems and lyric ones. With regard to his artistic achievements, his poetry represents diversity as well an individuality, which pours out freedom and passion. His poetry written in the later period is bold and unrestrained in style. Queer and cold in tone, original and unusual in images. He's an expert with every poetic style, the seven-word quatrain in particular. The fourth chapter gives insight into his essays. His essays are only free in thought, but also vigorous in spirit. As to the artistry, his essays are rich and abundant in style. Thee epilogue assesses the position and influence to the writer's poetry and essay in literary history. Xu Wei attaches importance to the writer's self-consciousness, repels bondage of humanity in any form. His poetry pave the way for progressive literature and has profound impact on the liberal-minded intellectuals like Yuan Hong Dao, Zhang Dainian and Zheng Xie. His esssys have far-reaching influence on radical scholars like Jin Shengtan. His feuilletion is the precursor in this field in late Ming. His influence reaches an far as the May Fourth Movement in contemporary times.