Comparative Study Of Yuan Mei And Hong Liangji’s Poetics

Both Yuan Mei and Hong Liangji were considered as the famous literature theorists of Qing Dynasty and there are abundant researches for their poetics in educational circles. But comparatively speaking, the latter was much less outstanding.Many comparative study scholars have begun to pay attention to their poetics.However, a comparatively integrated system has come into being. Based on the study of Random Poetry Theory and Bei River Poetry Theory which were respectively written by Yuan Mei and Hong Liangji, this thesis aims to conduct a comprehensive comparative study on their poetics. This thesis analyzes the ideology of the two theorists and illustrates that Hong Liangji’s poetics hold unique characteristics,initiative spirit, high theoretical values as well as practical significance although his poetics were partly influenced by Yuan Mei and other poets who spoke highly of natural disposition and intelligence. The thesis consists of three parts: introduction main body and conclusion. The first part mainly introduces the research status of the two theorists in the academic circles. It also introduces the topic selection background of the thesis as well as the research significance. The main body is divided into four chapters. The first chapter illustrates in detail the poetic background of the birth of the two poetic theorists. The latter three parts focus on the two theorists’ poetics and make a detailed comparative study on the impact.First, Yuan Mei and Hong Liangji made friends in Qianjia Literature Filed. It first simply introduced their making friend together with its cultural significance and then it introduces the details.Second, comparative study on poem creation theory. As far as Yuan Mei and Hong Liangji’s poem creation is concerned, there is difference in the same. This is mainly reflected in temperament argument and creation thinking. The first difference was about disposition argument. They two believed that temperament was the core of poem creation and emphasized the real natural feelings. However, the former showing affection was more difficult than scenery depiction, but the latter found nature was the ultimate source and scenery depiction was easier. In addition, the two adhered tocharacteristics and innovation, but Yuan Mei insisted that people should learn from the ancient but be different from it, but Hong Liangji emphasized the importance of learning. The second difference was about writing creation. First, the two insisted the necessity of learning and it was necessary for people to learn more if people hoped to create more good poems, but the latter emphasized knowledge. Besides, Yuan Mei held the idea that the ancients were not necessarily more outstanding than the modern people. Therefore, he believed poem creation should be far from textual researches and he tried to get rid of the stale and bring forth the fresh. Hong Liangji respected Chinese ancient learning and he encouraged people to apply craftsmanship of analogy and association.Third, comparative study on poem appreciation theories. Yuan Mei and Hong Liangji held different attitudes towards poem appreciation. This was mainly shown in literature criticism and theoretical criticism. On one hand, the former did not like vowel rhyme but the latter it was the vowel rhyme that made great poems. On the other hand, both of them criticized severely romantic charm in literature, styles and texture, but the latter was against the former one’s natural disposition and intelligence.Four, comparative study on the poetic values and the effect. As for the value evaluation and drawback research, both of their poetics owned values with respect to criticism, literature subject, moral principles and poetic materials. However, their ways of expressions for the first two were slightly different. As far as the drawback research is concerned, Yuan Mei advocated affection between men and women but ignored the creation ability of poets. As a result, the effect of expression of poems was negatively influenced.The conclusion part summarizes the two theorists’ poetics in a comparative level.It briefly indicates that Hong Liangji made exploration and innovation based on Yuan Mei. It further illustrates the significance of the comparative study of their poetics.