Wang Xiangchun's Literature Research

Wang Xiangchun (1578-1632) was born in a famous family-Wang family in Shandong area during the middle and late Ming Dynasty. In the sixth generation of Wang family members, his literary achievement is the highest. And, he is also a main representative figure in Shandong parnassus during the late Ming Dynasty. With the outstanding poetic achievement and the theory of poetic reform of "reopening the poetic world", Wang Xiangchun not only has an important influence on the Shandong parnassus in the late Ming Dynasty, but also on the seventh generation of Wang Yumei, the eighth generation of Wang Shizhen, Xu Ye, and so on. Especially Wang Shizhen’s shenyun theory, was influenced by Wang Xiangchun.Wang Xiangchun’s works now have "Wen Shan Ting poetry" and "Qi Yin" (also known as "Ji Nan Bai Yong" ). There are more than 1,200 poems in these two poetries. In addition, Wang Xiangchun also created the works of Poetry Review-"Li Du Shi Ping"(including "Du Li Shi Ping" 2 volumes and "Du Du Shi" 1 volume).Wang Xiangchun experienced WanLi, TaiChang, TianQi, ChongZhen four periods. At that time, the social economic, political, ideological and cultural fields had undergone major changes.Therefore, Wang Xiangchun inevitably affected by a variety of factors.In addition, coupled with the dual influence which from regional and family culture, Wang Xiangchun not only shows the uniqueness in his personality and temperament, but also has many innovations in literary theory and creation. Which not only laid his important literary status in the Wang family,but also made him a typical figure in the process of changing the poetic atmosphere of Shandong area in the late Ming Dynasty.I n view of this,this paper takes Wang Xiangchun and his literary creation as the main research object. Through the excavation of literary historical materials related to Wang Xiangchun, and the all-round analysis and study of Wang Xiangchun’s life, friendship, literary creation, poetic theory, poetry influence and other aspects, accurately defined his status in Wang family and the Shandong or even national pamassus in the late Ming Dynasty. At the same time,this paper makes a useful supplement to the research of Wang family and the individual research of Shandong literati in Ming Dynasty.This paper is divided into seven chapters.The first chapter analyzes Wang Xiangchun’s family background, life and personality. Wang Xiangchun was born in Huantai county, Shandong Province, which was called Xin Cheng in ancient times, belonging to the state of Qi. Qi culture not only has a rich cultural deposit,but also has distinctive characteristics of open and enterprising, eclectic, which affected the formation of Wang Xiangchun insolent personality.In addition, Wang Xiangchun was influenced by family culture since childhood. The family precept of Morality and Reading has an important influence on Wang Xiangchun’s life. His bumpy official career experience is related to his family’s cultural education,which is not afraid of power and to promote righteousness. At the same time,when the party struggle occurs, the family education makes his lack of consciousness and means to protect himself,which led directly to his official career is not smooth.Moreover, he was persecuted by eunuch faction, and at the same time, his family was in a dangerous situation. In a word, the cultural tradition and the Wang family influence,contributed to the formation of Wang Xiangchun’s personality, and affected his later official career.The second chapter is to study Wang Xiangchun’s friendship. Due to the prominent family background, rich life experience and trapped in the party struggle and other factors, in Wang Xiangchun’s life, he came into contact with all kinds of social figures. In general, Wang Xiangchun’s communication with others is not based on the level of character positions, but from the affection among the countrymen, political position, literary hobbies and other aspects, widely selected communication object. Which led to his friendship with others has a distinctive regional and political characteristics, and literary communication is the main form. Through the classification of Wang Xiangchun’s communication object,and the key analysis of the contents of his friendship with Qian Qianyi, ZhongXing, Wen Xiangfeng, GongZi, Li Ruone and other important friends, we can find Wang Xiangchun’s personal hobby, daily behavior, Literary creation, life choices and many other aspects had been affected by his friends. And this extensive literary communication not only improved Wang Xiangchun’s literary accomplishment and political awareness, but also demonstrated his charisma, and eventually prompted him to shine in the late Ming Dynasty Shandong and even the national Parnassus.The third chapter is the monographic study of "Qi Yin". First of all, introduce and verify the version of "Qi Yin". Which focuses on the introduction and analysis of its ins and outs of Wang Shizhen annotate and delete some poems of "Qi Yin". Secondly,introduces and analyzes the theme and artistic style of "Qi Yin". Among them, it is an important content to discuss the strong regional consciousness in Wang Xiangchun’s poetic thought. Thirdly, compares the two works of"Qi Yin" and "Guang Qi Yin". Although the two works are describing the local conditions and customs of Jinan, because of the author’s time and life experience is different, there are differences in the ideological content and artistic style between the two works.The fourth chapter is the monographic study of "Wen Shan Ting Shi". First of all,introduces and verifies the version and the formation of "Wen Shan Ting Shi". Secondly,discusses the theme and content of this book. There are more than 1 thousand poems in "Wen Shan Ting Shi". They cover and contain everything, and their themes and content are very rich.So this book can be regarded as the history of poetry of the late Ming Dynasty. Finally, analyzes the artistic style of "Wen Shan Ting Shi". Wang Xiangchun’s poetry style is diverse, and with the change of Wang Xiangchun’s life experience and state of mind,the main styles of poetry in different periods are different.The fifth chapter is the study of Wang Xiangchun’s "Li Du Shi Ping". First of all, this paper introduces in detail the version and content of "Li Du Shi Ping", with the aim of depicting the works as it is. Secondly, through the comparison of Wang Xiangchun’s comments on Li Bai and Du Fu’s poetry, to study Wang Xiangchun’s tendency of praising Li Bai and criticizing Du Fu,and analyze the reasons for the formation of this tendency. Finally, combining with the background of the author’s writing of this book, discuss the value and significance of Wang Xiangchun’s commentary on Li Bai and Du Fu’s poetry.The sixth chapter is the study of the influence of Wang Xiangchun on Wang family literature. First of all, combined with Wang Xiangchun’s father Wang Zhiyou’s poetry creation achievements,discusses his influence on Wang Xiangchun’s poetry creation. And then focus on the analysis of the impact of Wang Xiangchun on the family literature, which mainly include the impacts of Wang Xiangchun on Wang Yumei, Wang Shizhen, Xu Ye, and so on. Among them,t he impact of Wang Xiangchun on Wang Shizhen is an important part in this chapter.On the study of this issue,mainly from the analysis of Wang Shizhen annotate "Wen Shan Ting Shi", through analyzing the basic situation of Wang Shizhen’s annotation, and combining with the contents and characteristics of Wang Shizhen’s criticism,to discuss Wang Shizhen’s acceptance of Wang Xiangchun’s poetics and finally draw the conclusion that Wang Shizhen’s ShenYun theory was influenced by Wang Xiangchun.The seventh chapter discusses Wang Xiangchun’s poetic innovation and the influence of poetry. Wang Xiangchun lived in the late Ming Dynasty,at that time,the literary arena was rife with two literary thoughts of "Back to the Ancients" and "learning from heart". In this background, Wang Xiangchun neither support the worthy of townsmen Li Panlong and other people’s behavior of "Back to the Ancients", nor support his friends Qian Qianyi, Zhong Xing and other people’s behavior of opposing simulation retro, but calmly analyzed the pros and cons of classicist school and the anti-classicist school, and then,on the basis of learning the spirit of the ancients opened up a new way of poetry,and put forward the theory of poetic reform of"reopening the poetic world". This reflects the innovative spirit of Wang Xiangchun’s poetics. By virtue of this new poetry theory and creative practice, Wang Xiangchun had an influence on the Wang family members,but also changed the atmosphere of Shandong parnassus in the late Ming dynasty.As a result, Wang Xiangchun has become a literary giant in the late Ming Dynasty in Shandong parnassus.