From Historicity to Fictionality: The Chinese Poetics of Narrative

Language: English

Published by Stanford University Press, 2004

0804751420 / 9780804751421

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Seller: Palimpsest Scholarly Books & Services, Brooktondale, NY, U.S.A.Palimpsest Scholarly Books & Services

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Softcover

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Softcover volume, measuring approximately 5.75" x 8.75", shows very light shelfwear. Binding is sound. Pages are clean and bright. viii/213 pages. "This is the first comprehensive work in English on the complex history and theory of traditional Chinese narrative. It describes the major Chinese conventions and strategies for interpreting narrative works, both historical and fictional, from the earliest narratives through those of the Ch'ing dynasty. For most of China's recorded history, historical authenticity and factual accuracy were paramount in the production and reception of narrative texts. Fictional narratives were theorized and judged in accordance with the standards of historical narratives. In short, narrative was history, and fiction was defective history. Furthermore, the state made great efforts to control fiction by suppression (censorship) and disavowal (denigration and trivialization). It was only with the widespread popularity of novels in the Ming and Ch'ing dynasties that Chinese theorists were able to come to terms with fiction and dehistoricize the poetics of narrative by allowing and recognizing invention and fabrication in narrative texts. At this time, the Chinese poetics of narrative moved away from the long-held centrality of historicity, and critics acknowledged that good fiction can penetrate the nature and feelings of human beings in ways that other writings cannot, and that a reader is able to discover the uttermost principles of life in fiction just as in the Confucian classics and historical writings. Narrative was no longer assigned the function it had, for some 2,000 years, of being a "factual record" or "credible history." Its existence was justified because it conjured up a world that was lifelike and credible. In the process of tracing the long history of Chinese narrative, the author employs both Chinese and Western theoretical writings to chart convergences and differences in Chinese and Western literary theory and criticism.".…

Seller Inventory # ABE-1778000144271

Title
From Historicity to Fictionality: The Chinese Poetics of Narrative
Author
Sheldon Hsiao-Peng Lu
Publisher
Stanford University Press
Publication year
2004
Condition
Fine
Binding
Soft cover
Language
English
ISBN 10
0804751420
ISBN 13
9780804751421
Edition
1st Edition
Item weight
318 grams
Dimensions
1.45 centimeters width by 13.97 centimeters height by 21.59 centimeters depth

Palimpsest Scholarly Books & Services

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