Research On Yuan Hongdao’s Epistolary Literary Criticism

Yuan Hongdao is a leading figure in literature reformation in late Ming Dynasty. As thehead of Gong An School, together with other members, has wide influence on the literture of thattime. Due to the achievement of his literary creation and theory, works of Yuan Hongdao haslong been the subjects of numerous researches. However, after analysis of current researchsituation on his works, we can find out that most researches explore the literary thoughts andtheir origins macroscopically as well as his achievement in poems and travel-writings.Systematic researches on Yuan Hongdao’s letters in epistolary literary criticism perspective arehardly seen, thus such researches can broaden researchers’ horizon and make them have a deeperunderstanding of his literary critical theory. The paper is composed of three parts.Part one: the perface. It describes the signification of the topic chosen and the researchvalue of epistolary literary criticism, besides, it sketches out the research situation and revealsthe research value of Yuanhongdao’s episoolary literature. Epistolary literary criticism is a kindof particular literary criticism which is worthy of more and deeper exploration. Literati useletters to discuss literary problems and express their thoughts, through which literary thoughtsand the tendency of literary creation are known to others more vividly and veritably. There arefruitful results in the field of Yuan Hongdao’s life and literary problems over the past century.However, systematic researches on his letters are rare, no to mention researches in epistolaryliterary criticism perspective. For that reason, the paper is working to explore the value, featuresand literary thoughts in his epistolary literary criticism, which has great significance for us toknow the development and the unique value of his epistolary literary criticism.Part two is about the literary criticism and thoughts in Yuan Hongdao’ letters. YuanHongdao is quite aware of the prevailing restoration of ancient literature in Ming Dynasty, so heput forward a literary thought that literature should change according to age. Only throughinnovation can literati make a big breakthrough. Meanwhile, he strongly opposes literarysimulation which he thinks may results in the decline of literature. In his opinion, if literaryworks become duplications of ancient ones, they are no longer the reflection of the true feelingsof authors. The violation of literary rules inevitably leads to the decline of literature. Hence, headvocates that one should state his feeling frankly and pursue freedom of the soul. YuanHongdao thinks highly of folk music and literature in that they are free from feudal ethics, mostof which are in pure-hearted spoken language. To strengthen his view and criticize the simulation, he refers to works of some literati like Su Shi of Song Dynasty and Xu Wei of Ming Dynasty.Part three is about the essential qualities of Yuan Hongdao epistolary literary criticism.First, people can get motivated and express themselves freely by epistolary literary criticism.Letters, out of the need to communicate, are keys to the expression and spread of his literarythoughts. It is more convenient for Yuan Hongdao and his friends to discuss literary problemsand revise their literary thoughts through letters.Letters are the most common means of information flow and emotional communication.Being reluctant to focus on rhetoric, letter-writers express their feelings and shorten the distancebetween readers and them in plain language. That is how Yuan Hongdao do it. Though literarycriticism are supposed to be objective, Yuan Hongdao’s epistolary literary criticism carries strongsubjective traits, which is a spontaneous expression of his emotions.Last, due to the unique advantage of letters, epistolary literary criticism is free from fixedpatterns. In addition, it explains profound theory in simple and intensive language, just as a chatwith friends. Yuan Hongdao’s epistolary criticism is free from fixed patterns, too. He conveys hisliterary thoughts in casual conversations These letters are evidences of Yuan Hongdao’s literarytalent, unabashed individuality and consistent pursuit of freedom.The epilogue summarizes the value of Yuan Hongdao’s epistolary literary criticism. Thepaper discusses Yuan Hongdao’s literary thoughts in epistolary literary criticism perspective anduncovers his literary criticism and thoughts. In addition, it further enriches the research onepistolary literary criticism,which also adds to the research on Yuan Hongdao ’s mentality.