Spirit and self in medieval China : the Shih-shuo hsin-yü and its legacy

The "Shih-shuo hsin-yu", conventionally translated as "A New Account of Tales of the World", is one of the most significant works in the entire Chinese literary tradition. It established a genre (the "Shih-shuo t'i") and inspired dozens of imitations from the later part of the Tang dynasty (618-907) to the early Republican era of the 20th century. The "Shih-shuo hsin-yu" consists of more than a thousand historical anecdotes about elite life in the late Han dynasty and the Wei-Chin period (about AD 150-420). Despite a general recognition of the place of the 2Shih-shuo hsin-yu" in China's literary history (and to a lesser extent that of Japan), the genre itself has never been adequately defined or thoroughly studied. "Spirit and Self in Medieval China" offers a thorough study of the origins and evolution of the "Shih-shuo t'i" based on a comprehensive literary analysis of the "Shih-shuo hsin-yu" and a systematic documentation and examination of more than 30 imitations. The study also contributes to the growing interest in the Chinese idea of individual identity. By focusing on the "Shin-shuo" genre, which provides the starting point in China for a systematic literary construction of the self, it demonstrates that, contrary to Western assertions of a timeless Chinese "tradition," an authentic understanding of personhood in China changed continually and often significantly in response to changing historical and cultural circumstances. The Shih-shuo hsin-yu, conventionally translated as A New Account of Tales of the World, is one of the most significant works in the entire Chinese literary tradition. It established a genre (the Shih-shuo t'i) and inspired dozens of imitations from the later part of the Tang dynasty (618-907) to the early Republican era of the twentieth century. The Shih-shuo hsin-yu consists of more than a thousand historical anecdotes about elite life in the late Han dynasty and the Wei-Chin period (about A.D. 150-420). Despite a general recognition of the place of the Shih-shuo hsin-yu in China's literary history (and to a lesser extent that of Japan), the genre itself has never been adequately defined or thoroughly studied. Spirit and Self in Medieval China offers the first thorough study in any language of the origins and evolution of the Shih-shuo t'i based on a comprehensive literary analysis of the Shih-shuo hsin-yu and a systematic documentation and examination of more than thirty imitations. The study also contributes to the growing interest in the Chinese idea of individual identity. By focusing on the Shin-shuo genre, which provides the starting point in China for a systematic literary construction of the self, it demonstrates that, contrary to Western assertions of a timeless Chinese'tradition,'an authentic understanding of personhood in China changed continually and often significantly in response to changing historical and cultural circumstances. The Shih-shuo hsin-yu, conventionally translated as A New Account of Tales of the World, is one of the most significant works in the entire Chinese literary tradition. It established a genre (the Shih-shuo t'i) and inspired dozens of imitations. The Shih-shuo hsin-yu consists of more than a thousand historical anecdotes about elite life in the late Han dynasty and the Wei-Chin period (c. 150 -- A.D. 420).Spirit and Self in Medieval China offers the first thorough study in any language of the origins and evolution of the Shih-shuo t'i based on a comprehensive literary analysis of the Shih-shuo hsin-yu and a systematic documentation and examination of more than thirty imitations. The study also contributes to the growing interest in the Chinese idea of individual identity. By focusing on the Shin-shuo genre, which provides the starting point in China for a systematic literary construction of the self, it demonstrates that, contrary to Western assertions of a timeless Chinese "tradition", an authentic understanding of personhood in China changed continually and often significantly in response to changing historical and cultural circumstances. Character Appraisal: The Foundation Of The Shih-shou T'i -- Character Appraisal And The Formation Of Wei-chin Spirit -- Shih-shou T'i: A Sui Generis Genre -- Between Order And Disorder : The Shih-shuo Taxonomy Of Human Nature -- Using Body To Depict Spirit: The Shih-shuo Characterization Of Persons -- Body And Heart: T'ang And Sung Imitation -- Things And Intent: Ming And Ch'ing Imitations -- Milk And Scent: Women Shih-shuo -- An Alien Analogue: The Japanese Imitation Daitō Seigo -- New And Old: The Last Wave Of Shih-shuo Imitations. Nanxiu Qian. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [475]-504) And Index.