Abstract
Fang Bao and Li Fu are two renowned masters of classical Chinese prose during the late Kangxi and early Qianlong periods. Their writings continued the early Qing dynasty's tradition of “returning to elegance and upholding correctness,” which emphasized the moral and didactic function of classical prose. They advocated for following the examples set by the Tang and Song dynasty masters and introduced the concept of “wenjin” — a series of prohibitions against certain problematic writing techniques and stylistic choices that they deemed inappropriate for classical prose. Fang and Li's efforts aimed to systematically critique the literary style of the late Ming period and provide concrete methods for achieving “elegance and correctness” in prose. However, the two engaged in direct debates over whether certain rhetorical techniques, such as metaphor, antithesis, citation of ancient events, word reduction, and word substitution, should be included in these restrictions. Their debates revealed differing interpretations of the Tang and Song masters and divergent views on the relationship between form and content in classical prose. These discussions resonated significantly during the mid-Qing period. Although Fang Bao had more followers, Li Fu's perspectives on specific literary examples gained broader acceptance. This shift reflects the growing influence of scholars focused on textual research, which increasingly shaped the meaning of “elegance and correctness” and contributed to a transformation in the theoretical direction of classical prose during this period.
Keywords
Fang Bao, Li Fu, elegance and correctness, wenjin, Qing dynasty classical prose
First Page
213
Last Page
223
Recommended Citation
Feng, Lin. 2024. "The Divergences and Convergences of Fang Bao and Li Fu in the Evolution of Qing Dynasty Classical Prose Theory." Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art 44, (4): pp.213-223. https://tsla.researchcommons.org/journal/vol44/iss4/22
