In the past few decades, the field of late Qing poetry has rapidly evolved and continues to grow in exciting new directions. Before turning to the history of recent developments in the field, I will briefly introduce ...In the past few decades, the field of late Qing poetry has rapidly evolved and continues to grow in exciting new directions. Before turning to the history of recent developments in the field, I will briefly introduce my own experience in the field and how I first became interested in Qing verse. In high school, I taught myself German and, while I was not able to master German conversation, I did manage to learn how to read the language fairly well. My reading of German had a decisive influence on my future studies, because it exposed me to the poetry of Goethe, Schiller, and Heine, the first time in my life when poetry began ＂speaking＂ to me. I originally thought about majoring in German in university, but before I graduated from high school I decided that I would first try out another, even more challenging, language, Chinese. Since I knew China had a long history, I thought that China might have some great poetry, too, and I have been busy with it ever since and hope to continue with it to my final day.展开更多
This paper discusses the biography, thought, and works of Li Ruqian （1852-19o9）. He was appointed Consul in Kobe 1882-84, during which period he studied the political institutions and culture of Meiji Japan and the ...This paper discusses the biography, thought, and works of Li Ruqian （1852-19o9）. He was appointed Consul in Kobe 1882-84, during which period he studied the political institutions and culture of Meiji Japan and the West, eventually translating Washington Irving＇s biography of George Washington into Classical Chinese, a book which exercised a great influence on late Qing reformers. Li＇s literary theory strongly emphasized the importance of originality. He also cultivated a style that was simpler and closer to spoken Chinese than many of his contemporaries. He eventually espoused a thoroughgoing reform of Chinese government and society. He abandoned the idea of the centrality of Chinese culture for a worldview of cultural relativity in which all cultures of the world are viewed as equally valid. After his return to China Li became even more involved in reform activities, but soon he became almost totally alienated from Chinese society and even began expressing strong doubts about the whole tradition of classical writing. In his poems and prose works, he warned Chinese intellectuals to abandon their smug conservatism and adapt to the new world or perish, making fun of his own society in biting satirical pieces that remind one of the writings of Lu Xun＇s May Fourth era. Li Ruqian may, indeed, be the first Chinese author to develop the idea of Chinese inadequacy and guilt which is so common in the literature of the next century.展开更多
文摘In the past few decades, the field of late Qing poetry has rapidly evolved and continues to grow in exciting new directions. Before turning to the history of recent developments in the field, I will briefly introduce my own experience in the field and how I first became interested in Qing verse. In high school, I taught myself German and, while I was not able to master German conversation, I did manage to learn how to read the language fairly well. My reading of German had a decisive influence on my future studies, because it exposed me to the poetry of Goethe, Schiller, and Heine, the first time in my life when poetry began ＂speaking＂ to me. I originally thought about majoring in German in university, but before I graduated from high school I decided that I would first try out another, even more challenging, language, Chinese. Since I knew China had a long history, I thought that China might have some great poetry, too, and I have been busy with it ever since and hope to continue with it to my final day.
文摘This paper discusses the biography, thought, and works of Li Ruqian （1852-19o9）. He was appointed Consul in Kobe 1882-84, during which period he studied the political institutions and culture of Meiji Japan and the West, eventually translating Washington Irving＇s biography of George Washington into Classical Chinese, a book which exercised a great influence on late Qing reformers. Li＇s literary theory strongly emphasized the importance of originality. He also cultivated a style that was simpler and closer to spoken Chinese than many of his contemporaries. He eventually espoused a thoroughgoing reform of Chinese government and society. He abandoned the idea of the centrality of Chinese culture for a worldview of cultural relativity in which all cultures of the world are viewed as equally valid. After his return to China Li became even more involved in reform activities, but soon he became almost totally alienated from Chinese society and even began expressing strong doubts about the whole tradition of classical writing. In his poems and prose works, he warned Chinese intellectuals to abandon their smug conservatism and adapt to the new world or perish, making fun of his own society in biting satirical pieces that remind one of the writings of Lu Xun＇s May Fourth era. Li Ruqian may, indeed, be the first Chinese author to develop the idea of Chinese inadequacy and guilt which is so common in the literature of the next century.
