Chinese Theories of Fiction: A Non-Western Narrative SystemIn this innovative work, Ming Dong Gu examines Chinese literature and traditional Chinese criticism to construct a distinctly Chinese theory of fiction and places it within the context of international fiction theory. He argues that because Chinese fiction, or xiaoshuo, was produced in a tradition very different from that of the West, it has formed a system of fiction theory that cannot be adequately accounted for by Western fiction theory grounded in mimesis and realism. Through an inquiry into the macrocosm of Chinese fiction, the art of formative works, and theoretical data in fiction commentaries and intellectual thought, Gu explores the conceptual and historical conditions of Chinese fiction in relation to European and world fiction. In the process, Gu critiques and challenges some accepted views of Chinese fiction and provides a theoretical basis for fresh approaches to fiction study in general and Chinese fiction in particular. Such masterpieces as the Jin Ping Mei (The Plum in the Golden Vase) and the Hongloumeng (The Story of the Stone) are discussed at length to advance his notion of fiction and fiction theory. |
Contents
Theory of FictionA Chinese Perspective | 1 |
1 Chinese Notions of Fiction | 17 |
2 The Nature of Chinese Fiction | 43 |
3 The Aesthetic Turn in Chinese Fiction | 71 |
4 The Poetic Nature of Chinese Fiction | 97 |
Poetics of Pure Fiction | 125 |
Poetic Fiction and Open Fiction | 153 |
A Chinese System | 181 |
Toward a Transcultural Theory of Fiction | 211 |
Notes | 223 |
| 243 | |
| 261 | |
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Common terms and phrases
aesthetic appearance approach argue artistic attempt Ban Gu becomes called chapter characters Chinese fiction Chinese tradition conception concerned conscious constructed created creation creative critical desire different discourse dream early elements episodes existence expression Fiction fiction theory fictional first function genesis genre give historical Hongloumeng human idea imagination imitation impulse insights interpretation Jin Ping Mei kind language linguistic literary literature lyric materials meaning mode multiple narration narrative nature notion novel object opinion origin persons poetic poetry points position practice principle prose pure fiction reader reading realism reason records refers relation represent representation result rise scholars sense significant similar stone story structure suggests symbol tale Tang techniques theory tion tradition true truth turn unconscious understanding verbal vision Western writing xiaoshuo xiaoshuo writings Zhang