A Study Of Narrative Theory About Jin Sheng-tan's Criticism In Outlaws Of The Marsh

Jin Sheng-tan was a master of novel criticism during the last stage of Ming dynasty and early stage of Qing dynasty. The Fifth Gifted Scholar's Book--Outlaws of the Marsh of Shi Nai-an which was criticized by him was at the top level of the Chinese classical narrative theory history and had important impact on Mao Lun, Mao Zong-gang, Zhang Zhu-po, Zhi Yan-zhai, etc. Jin Sheng-tan's comments on Outlaws of the Marsh contained abundant narrative theory and embodied the unique narrative intelligence of ancient Chinese. With referring to western narratology, this paper tries to explain the real meaning of Jin's narrative theory from three aspects , which are novel narrative specialty, narrative structure and narrative methods. For this reason, it differs from general studying angle of "character, plot and surroundings". This paper is made up of three sections: index epigraph, text and peroration. The epigraph part introduces Jin Sheng-tan's biography , research condition of Jin's comments on Outlaws of the Marsh, and the research angle and method of this paper. The text part includes three aspects: First, "following wen(文)to make matter"—comments of novel narrative specialty. In the Reading Way of the Fifth Gifted Scholar's Book, Jin presented important view: Shi Ji records events by words, Outlaws of the Marsh follows wen(文)to make stories."Scholars had made various explanations about it. On the basis of differentiating and analyzing these explanations, the author tries to discover Jin's comprehension of novel nature: stories in a novel could be fabricated; wen(文) is the pursue of novel narration and following wen is the principle of novel narration. Second, "establishing a piece of writing and setting up pattern"—comments of novel narrative structure. The author tries to elucidate Jin's concept of whole structure which stresses on well-knit and stereoscopic characteristic. Third, "the general program of articles"—comments of novel narrative methods. Some important narrative methods are chosen and the author has analyzed them in two levels, which are the art of combining chapter and the technique of depicting characters, events, and scenery, in order to bring to light ancient Chinese narrative intelligence. In the part of peroration, the chief drawback in Jin's narrative is pointed out , and the writer emphasizes the very important practical meaning of studying narrative theory of Outlaws of the Marsh criticized by Jin Sheng-tan.