Studies On Wei Xi’s Prose

As one of the three masters in the field of arts of the prose in the early times of Qing dynasty, Wei Xi was famous for both his theory of prose and collection of works。 With regards of Wei Xi’s contemporary times and personal psychology, the dissertation aims at have a profound discussion on the two points mentioned above. There are seven chapters in the dissertation. The former three chapters illustrate Wei Xi’s theory, and the rest involve his works.Chapter one mainly discuss the viewpoint about the function of prose in the eye of Wei Xi. Wei Xi believed that literary could not be the most important matter in one’s life and a perfect essay should enunciate the philosophy and be useful in the society. The philosophy Wei Xi mentioned concerned regulating family and governing country and pacifying the world. In light of the current situation of the literary circles, Wei Xi advocated the applicability of the prose. With no child, Wei Xi stood for the utility of the literacy on the purpose of immortal glory.Chapter two concerns Wei Xi’s attitude towards the produce of creating prose, namely accumulating knowledge and elevating intelligence. Zhu Xi once said one must obtain knowledge by investigation of things. Now Wei Xi applied the idea in the field of literary. Elevating intelligence need introspection apart from experiences.Chapter three expounds Wei Xi’s criticism about the Eight Great Writers in Tang and Song dynasty. The criticism reflects Wei Xi’s literary theory. Chapter four illustrates Wei Xi’s historical essays that embody the Wei Xi’s image as a debater like the ones in the warring states. Only this kind prose represents Wei Xi’s true ambition. In his historical essays, the emperor was neglected and the philosophy was emphases. On the other hand, the historical essays conclude multitude of partial ideas, which was inevitable in a debater’s essays.Chapter five mainly discusses the biography written by Wei Xi. The hero of biography written by Wei Xi mostly was loyal to the Ming dynasty. When Wei Xi narrated the heroics of the minister, he always covered the man’s whole life in details by the trace of time. As the biography for civilian, Wei Xi only narrated the story based on the most marked characteristic of the man. The comment of the biography usually concern Wei Xi’s idea about the times and customs.Chapter six involves Wei Xi’s note prose. In the note prose, Wei Xi began to think over why Ming dynasty collapsed and how to rectify contemporary customs. The arts of Wei Xi’s note prose was ingenious. Especially, the structure of Wei Xi’s note prose should be highly praised.Chapter seven illustrates the epigraphy written by Wei Xi, which was despised by some critic at that times. Wei Xi once signified the characteristic of epigraphy. His epigraphy obey the traditional norm.Epilogue briefly analyses the position of Wei Xi’s prose in the field of literary history in early and middle times of Qing dynasty.