The poetics of decadence : Chinese poetry of the Southern dynasties and late Tang periods / Fusheng Wu.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wu, Fusheng, 1959- author.

Series:

SUNY series in Chinese philosophy and culture

SUNY series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Liang Jianwendi, Emperor of China, 503-551--Criticism and interpretation.

Liang Jianwendi.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 277 p. )

Place of Publication:

Albany, New York : State University of New York Press, [1998]

Summary:

A reconsideration of Chinese decadent (tuifei) poetry which argues that this poetry is not a marginal trend but rather a vital part of the Chinese literary tradition.This intertextual study of decadent (tuifei) poetry demystifies it by using tuifei as a critical term and by situating it within a conventional system of signs. The Poetics of Decadence focuses on four major poets during the Southern Dynasties (420-869) and Late Tang Periods (826-904) when decadent poetry was produced in great quantity, namely Xiao Gang, Li He, Wen Tingyun, and Li Shangyin. The author argues that decadent poetry challenged the canonical concept and practice of poetry as established by "The Great Preface" to The Book of Songs and by the poetry of the Han, Wei, and Jin periods. In so doing, decadent poetry formed a poetic genre with a unique, complex, and self-reflexive verbal system.The rich and complex nature of decadent poetry gives it remarkable resilience in the face of violent condemnation by traditional criticism and allows its successful negotiation with and integration into the canonical tradition. Decadent poetry is not a marginal trend as it has been commonly perceived, but rather a vital part of the Chinese poetic tradition.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1 Defining Decadence in the Chinese Poetic Tradition

Chapter 2 Xiao Gang and Palace Style Poetry

Chapter 3 Li He The Poetry of Beautiful Women and Ghastly Ghosts

Chapter 4 Wen Tingyun The Poet Dandy

Chapter 5 Li Shangyin Negotiation with Tradition

Conclusion

Notes

Selected Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781438424507

1438424507

9780585090313

0585090319

OCLC:

42636889