Abstract

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Title:: Luo Ye’s Zuiweng Tanlu:A Construction of the Concept of Song Dynasty’s Popular Novels

Keywords:: Xiaoshuo yinzi; Xiaoshuo kaipi; Shegeng xuyin; Zuiweng tanlu; popular novel concept

Abstract:: Rather than a mere collection of story-tellers’ scripts recording story-telling skills in the Song Dynasty, Luo Ye’s Zuiweng tanlu醉翁谈录is characterized by its construction of a theoretical system of popular novels in the Song Dynasty, thus gaining due significance in the history of Chinese literature. The theoretical pursuit of the book, as exemplified by Chapter Shegeng xuyin 舌耕叙引, is mainly manifested in its combination of the traditional novel concept and the theoretical innovations made in the Song Dynasty. In addition, it follows a pattern of theoretical elaboration of Hanshu: Yiwen zhi汉书·艺文志. Among the different chapters each with a special focus, the article Xiaoshuo yinzi小说引子 is intended to specify core features and social functions of popular novels, and the article Xiaoshuo kaipi小说开辟 to elaborate the stylistic skills and the aesthetic effect of novels. The formation of the theoretical system of popular novels has not only influenced the creation of popular novels since the late Song Dynasty, but also pointed out a new direction for the development of Chinese traditional novels.