Zhang Huan-huan

Abstract

Since Meng Qi from the Tang Dynasty proposed the concept of “Shishi” (Poetry-History), multiple interpretations, most of them were on an affirmative level, had been created, such as "narrate", "record as the author has witnessed ", " loyal and patriotic " etc. By the time of late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, Wang Fuzhi (1619-1692) 's viewpoint stood out by criticized not only part of the interpretations but the whole concept of "Shishi". When dealing with the relation between "history" and "poetry", Wang Fuzhi's fundamental proposition was to defy history’s violation of poetic form. Wang Fuzhi stressed that poetry should express “Xing” (human nature) and “Qing” (feelings). The history’s violation of poetic form would undermine the expression of Qing and therefore weaken the power of it, which could enhance the cultivation of people and help brace up the national power. Once the history was emphasized egregiously in poetic form, the essence of poetry would be vandalized. Essentially, Wang Fuzhi endowed the poetic form of a unique meaning due to his consciousness of Confucianism. He hoped that the power of poetry would guide Qing to Xing. This was his poetic ideal to seek moral potential in the aesthetics of poetry. Therefore, he rebelled at the concept of “Shishi” which impeded destructively. This paper analyzes Wang Fuzhi's criticism of “Shishi”, discusses the reason for his unique critical attitude amid the atmosphere of this concept during the late Ming and early Qing and explains his interpretations of poetry.

Key words: Wang Fuzhi, Shishi, Du Fu, Xing-Qing, Poetics of Ming and Qing Dynasties