A Comparison Between Jin Shengtan 's And Li Yu' S Narrative Literature Theory

Jin Shengtan and Li Yu are the most famous literary theory experts in Ming and Qing dynasties, they make great contributions to the novel theory and the drama theory. This article is divided into five parts to describe the similarities and differences between the theories of Jin Shengtans’ and Li Yus’,then I will make a brife theory.The first chapter is to compare the form of their literature theories. The differences between Jins’ and Lis’ theories are very obvious, Jin’s theory is based on comments, Li’s theory is based on independent theories. These two methods all have its advantages and disadvantages. Comments have a long time, and it can aim at specitific items. It may just disscuss a small question, but it can disscuss the question particularly. However, comments don’t have independence. Indeppendent theories are more free, they can hve all kinds of forms. They can may be just only theoretical sides, and they can always have lively instances.The second chapter is to compare the theory of their artistic fiction. Because of the tradition of Chinese historical literature, the consciousness of artustic fiction in ancient literature is very weak. Jin Shengtan and Li Yu all have their theories about the fiction of portrait in narrative literatures. Jin Shengtan’s theory is in form of "Dongxin Shuo",Li Yu’s theory is in form of "Lixin Shuo". Their theories are all about the mentality of writing, they all emphasize to observe the person in literature. Compared with Li Yu, Jin Shengtan’s theory is more plentiful, it has philosohism, such as "study the nature of things" and "principle of benevolence and loyalty the doctrine of loyalty and consideration for others", which make the theory more profound.The third chapter is to compare the theory about the creative realms. In the classical Chinese literary theories, the discussion of the creative realms are more mature. Jin and Li are all in order to heart and pen relations as the breakthrough point. Jin divided the articles into three states:"the state of saints" which hand written for a cause,"the state of Gods" which hand does not write for a cause,"the superb realm" which without words. Li divided the articles into three states:hand written for a cause, the author’s writing carry in our hearts and heart not to however pen to make it. These two points method have the same effect. The forth chapter is to compare the theory of narrative structure. Jin Shengtan rigorous as evaluation criteria of the article structure. Li Yu put forward that set up the brain and reduce the clues. Their emphasis is different:Li’s claim of "one person and one thing" is based on Jin’s "one person", and Li’s emphasis is on "one thing", which cause the different claims about the structure of the Romance of the West Chamber. They all put the grammars of the eight-part essay into the theories, which can show the readers btter and it can illustrate the rationality of the theory.The fifth chapter is to compare the theory of their orera features. Li Yu talked about his views on the Romance of the West Chamber which has been commented by Jin Shengtan in Tian Ci Yu Lun of Xian Qing Ou Ji. In general, Li Yu’s evaluation is relatively fair, and he pionted out Jin’s disadvantages, which reflect their different views about drama function theory. Jin comment the Romance of the West Chamber as a pure literature, which attention to detail to achieve perfection. However, Li Yu thinked that the drama must be played on the stage, so we must focus on the script stage, which can reflect the essence of the drama literature.The last chapter is to summarise in brief about their achievements in the field of literary theory, and to explain the special contribution to the theory of fiction and the theory of drama. In addition to, this part will talk about their important positions in the history of literature.