The Poetics of Decadence: Chinese Poetry of the Southern Dynasties and Late Tang Periods (SUNY series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture) - Hardcover

Wu, Fusheng

9780791437513: The Poetics of Decadence: Chinese Poetry of the Southern Dynasties and Late Tang Periods (SUNY series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0791437515 ISBN 13: 9780791437513

Publisher: State University of New York Press, 1998

This intertextual study of decadent (tuifei) poetry demystifies it by using tuifei as a critical term and by situating it within a conventional system of signs. The Poetics of Decadence focuses on four major poets during the Southern Dynasties (420-869) and Late Tang Periods (826-904) when decadent poetry was produced in great quantity, namely Xiao Gang, Li He, Wen Tingyun, and Li Shangyin. The author argues that decadent poetry challenged the canonical concept and practice of poetry as established by "The Great Preface" to The Book of Songs and by the poetry of the Han, Wei, and Jin periods. In so doing, decadent poetry formed a poetic genre with a unique, complex, and self-reflexive verbal system.

The rich and complex nature of decadent poetry gives it remarkable resilience in the face of violent condemnation by traditional criticism and allows its successful negotiation with and integration into the canonical tradition. Decadent poetry is not a marginal trend as it has been commonly perceived, but rather a vital part of the Chinese poetic tradition.

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Review:

"Wu has made a major contribution to the field. The poetics of decadence is a neglected subject in the study of classical Chinese poetry. The author's erudition and thoroughness are admirable." -- Shuen-fu Lin, The University of Michigan

"Wu's approach is bold and his discussion is insightful. All the Tang poets discussed are major figures. Wu has penetrating things to say about their styles, with ramifications for their works in general. This is a gem of a book. It will surely have far-reaching impact." -- Cynthia L. Chennault, University of Florida

Synopsis:

A study of the tuifei genre that proved remarkably resilient from the fifth to the tenth centuries in the face of violent condemnation by traditional criticism. Focusing on the four major poets Xiao Gang, Li He, Wen Tinguyn, and Li Shangyin, argues that the genre established itself by challenging the canonical concepts and practice of poetry set ou

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