A Comparative Study of Crucial Problems in Literary Evaluation in Liu Xie’s Wenxin diaolong

• Main Authors: Wen-Chi Lin, 林文琦
• Other Authors: Chi, Ch’iu-lang
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/48473654011632987568

碩士 === 東吳大學 === 英文學系 === 95 === Focusing on Zhiyin (Understanding or Ideal Critic) chapter in Liu Xie’s Wenxin diaolong, Arnold, and related concepts of Eastern and Western critics, we will find several problems in literary evaluation to be crucial. After presenting the status of literary evaluation in the era of globalizing comparative literature, we will investigate the prevalence of biases, the interaction and possible integration in subjective and objective interpretation with recourse to the theories of Barthes, Wang Fuzhi. Later, to explore the importance of the necessary preparation of an ideal critic, we will compare Liu’s ideas with similar concepts of Wimsatt and Beardsley and Arnold. Subsequently, we will investigate the balance between content and form and its linkage with Shklovsky’s “defamiliarization.” By comparing Tongbian (Flexible adaptability to varying situation) and qizheng (conformity or nonconformity to orthodox principles) with Gadamer’s “fusion of horizons,” we may further thrash out the harmonious coalition between tradition and novelty. Finally, we will infer how holistic views serve to enable not only the standard of literary evaluation but also the attainment to the realm of supreme aesthetic judgment. To make a valid literary evaluation, Liu Xie considers it necessary to adopt a microscopic, macroscopic, and synthetic approach. To avoid bias, Liu Xie emphasizes comprehensive consideration; he regards yuanzhao (holistic contemplation) as the highest goal in literary evaluation. Thus, critics should pursue the realm of a holistic view by virtue of boguan (broad view), shen yu wu you (spiritual thinking in association with the external world), xujing (vacancy and tranquility), shizhao (expert view), liuguan (six aspects), jianyi (see what is inwardly excellent), and so forth in order to transcend their bias and one-sidedness. While the aesthetic subject and object are two separate entities, they coexist with and influence one another. Further, aesthetic experience and judgment stimulate and reinforce each other. The balance between form and content stresses the adequate combination of substance and extrinsic artistic representation. Tongbian and qicheng underline not only the inter-influence, interfusion, and reformation in natural literary development but also analytical and integral interpretation of a work of literature. Thus, Liu Xie believes that a valid literary evaluation lies in the inter-influence of subjectivity and objectivity, the fusion of their horizons of past and modern. The successive intrinsic inter-projection and derivation within such horizon paves the way to holistic contemplation. Holistic contemplation is not only a way to trace back to the origin of literature but also a global vision with future outlook.. Key words: Liu Xie, Arnold, shizhao, Gadamer, literary evaluation, yuanzhao, tongbian, qizheng, fusion of horizons