...Zong-qi Cai 19. See Cai, “Six Dynasties Parallel Prose,” 221–25. 18. Shih, Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons , 11. 17. See the “Heavenly Operations” 天運 chapter of Zhuangzi in ZZJS , 2.491). 16. Ibid., 173–75. 15. Ibid., 107. 14. Owen, Readings...

... that. This chapter examines Wang Changling's loosely organized writings and reconstructs his comprehensive theory of literary creation, largely hidden within the multivalent term yi . Close, intertextual reading demonstrates how Wang deftly appropriates Daoist and Buddhist notions of yi 意 to illuminate different...

... them. Ironically, his simultaneous endorsements of two mutually opposing concepts creates the overarching dichotomous paradigm in which Ming-Qing critics will theorize all aspects of literature, including literary creation. As discussed in chapters 6–8, Ming critics fall into two broad camps...

...-lived. As discussed in detail in chapter 4, Wang Changling borrowed the sense of manas-vijñāna from Yogācāra Buddhism to describe transcendent contemplation and used the term “inscape” ( jing 境) for the totality of the universe's myriad things as presented by this yi . But after Wang, most Buddhist...

...Zong-qi Cai 1. This Hao Jing should not be confused with late Ming scholar Hao Jing 郝敬 (1557–1639), whose works are extensively discussed in chapter 8. 2. Hao Jing, Lingchuan ji , in Siku Quanshu , 1192:215. 3. Owen, Readings in Chinese Literary Thought , 96. 4. I...

... emotion and literary creation, the most prominent are the reform-minded Gong Zizhen 龔自珍 (1792–1841) and the revolutionary Lu Xun 魯迅 (1881–1936). This chapter examines their theoretical work in relation to the qing -centered developments discussed in chapter 8. Among major late Qing critics, Gong...

... of this hypocrite gentry and retain mytho-ecological beliefs. Examining Lu Xun's stories from Old Tales Retold , t his chapter explores the Chinese writer's recovery of the mythical and ecological images from the past in his critique of technocratic modernity. Confronted with the myth of progress, technological...

... platform from which to register and document slices of reality—with an objective distance. In doing so the mind discovers its independence and freedom, yet its exercise of freedom is made possible “only when it sets itself in opposition to tradition.” 3 As shown in chapter 2, tradition in this case...

... technological fetishism and economic growth ravage human society and Earth. Taking Chen Qiufan's novel Waste Tide as a case, this chapter examines the dire consequences of hasty industrialization, toxic colonialism, social breakdowns, and environmental damages. Social crises are endemic to ecological crises...

... and power, the community-based, nature-friendly elements are forgotten and barely audible on the forum of environmental discussion. By examining films from the socialist era, this chapter retrieves certain ecosocialist insights and scenarios from labor practice in managing human-nature relations...

...Ban Wang Abstract Artificial intelligence and genetic engineering call into question the notion of the human in the humanist tradition, causing deep and subtle rifts in human-human and human-nature relations. Examining stories by Chinese sci-fi writer Hao Jingfang, this chapter argues that digital...

... with laws of beauty. The aesthetic lies in working on nature while creating symbolic expressions and sensuous pleasure, as well as fulfilling innate potential. The idea of Homo faber is essential to nonalienated labor but also redefines the relations of art and labor. This chapter looks at Han Song's...

..., and reciprocal distancing and mutual ignorance” (72). One character comments, “Don't you think it's funny that a Terran is trying to save Earth with lessons from Mars, while a bunch of Martian kids are trying to save Mars with lessons learned on Earth?” (411). This chapter explores critical ecotopia...

..., the fight against COVID-19 has revealed both divisive and unitary aspects of politics. This chapter shows that politics is central to medicine and public health care. The inseparable link of politics and medicine marks a legacy in socialist China. By examining films made in the socialist era, this chapter...

... relations rooted in repressive hierarchy and class and gender oppression. This chapter targets political, social, and productive relations as the crucial areas for diagnosing the ills of ecological degradation. Rather than a question of how humanity as a whole stands against nature, the chapter contends...

...Zong-qi Cai [email protected] Copyright © 2023 Lingnan University 2023 En route to the next major theory of literary creation, by the Tang poet-critic Wang Changling 王昌齡 (ca. 698–ca. 756), this chapter makes a detour to examine Zhou Yong's 周顒 (?–493) and Zong Bing's 宗炳 (375...

... Jing 郝經 (1223–1275) discussed in chapter 6. 13. See Cai, Configurations of Comparative Poetics , chap. 7. 14. Yuan H., Yuan Zhonglang quanji , Ji section, vol. 174, juan 1, 415. 15. Tan Yuanchun, Tan Yuanchun ji , juan 23, 622. 16. Wang F., Ming shi pingxuan , juan...

... exception is Wordsworth's detailed description of the creative process in his “Preface to Lyrical Ballads ” (1800). I have compared his description with Liu Xie's in my Configurations of Comparative Poetics , chapter 6. For a comprehensive study on Western theories of creative imagination, see Engell...

... of literary creation. Having studied Western literary theory for several decades, I can't help but feel it would require an entire monograph to compare Chinese and Western theories of literary creation comprehensively. In this chapter, I merely attempt to roughly delineate what distinguishes the two...