Yan Hung-tao and the Kung-an School [Paperback]

This book focuses upon the literary theories of Y?an Hung-tao (15681610) and his two brothers.A new perspective on the rise and fall of the Kung-an School is offered as a key to understanding the development of Chinese literary criticism in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.A new perspective on the rise and fall of the Kung-an School is offered as a key to understanding the development of Chinese literary criticism in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.Professor Chou here offers a new perspective on the rise and fall of the Kung-an School as a key to understanding the development of Chinese literary criticism in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. His book focuses on the literary theories of YÜan Hung-tao (1568-1610)--the leader of the Kung-an School--and his two brothers. Its core is a detailed study of the poetry and prose of YÜan Hung-tao, comparing his theories with his writings and analyzing systematically the merits and flaws of his work. The volume concludes with a discussion of the legacy of the Kung-an School, treating the School not only as the major force behind the expressive trend in the late Ming period, but also as one of the precursors of the modern Chinese literary movement.Preface; 1. The literary scene before the rise of the Kung-an school; 2. The literary theories of the three Y?an brothers; 3. The poetry of Y?an Hung-tao; 4. The prose of Y?an Hung-tao; Epilogue: the legacy of the Kung-an school; Notes; The modern study of the three Y?an brothers and their Kung-an school: an introduction and select bibliography; Chinese titles of works translated; Glossary index.