Hu Shi's Style Theories And Their Significance In Literary History

Hu Shi is a great master in the history of Chinese modern literature. Researches into Hu Shi have received more and more scholars' attention and become the focus of literature research.Based on the establishment and development of style theories of Chinese modern literature, this dissertation, from the aspect of style theories, applies modern western linguistics, analyzes Hu Shi's understanding of modern style theories and the content of his style theory and points out the theory's significance to the whole literary history.From the point of modern literary criticism, literary history is mainly expressed as a history of style elution in nature. In essence; modern literary history is a dynamic process in which a modern style establishes, develops and comes to maturity.In Chinese modern literary history, Hu Shi was an advocator and erector of modern style theories. He was the first person who realized: "Chinese old literature is not mature at all the sides.'To develop Chinese new literature healthily, mature modem style theories criteria must be established. After his review of Chinese traditional and western modern style theories, Hu Shi established modern style theory of new literature according to the above theories. His theory consisted of two parts. One was modern colloquialism language system established though modern colloquialism movement, the other was modern style types including poetry, fiction, drama and essay. The whole logical trajectory was the revolution of linguistic symbols-aesthetic criteria of linguistic symbols-the establishment of style types.Starting with language, Hu Shi advocated colloquialism to realize the revolution of linguistic symbols and aesthetic criteria of linguistic symbols. Applying principles of western modern linguistics, this dissertation analyses the great significance and value of Hu Shi's work. With the development of western linguistic philosophy represented by Hardeggeld and western linguistics represented by Susure, people have realized that language, although seems to belong to literary form and only a tool used to express meaning, it is cover and physical material of ideology in substance. Literature essentially is a linguistic independent entity that is made of linguistic skills. So, the modern colloquialism movement advocated by Hu Shi(revolution of linguistic symbols-aesthetic criteria of linguistic symbols), will surely arouse revolution of the whole Chinese people's made of thinking, revolution of literary ideology and the transition of the whole literary conception from classical to modem. It5 also becomes the linchpin of Chinese literature, Chinese culture and even Chinese people's modernization with epoch-making significance. Based on the above, this dissertation concretely analyses the process of Hu Shi's construction of modern colloquialism linguistics system specifically.Language is the essence of style, style type its external form. After establishing the modem colloquialism linguistics system, Hu Shi established modern style types of new literature, specifically from poetry, fiction, drama and essay, etc. To poetry style, Hu Shi raised "natural syllables" and "imago and artistic conception" theories. His fiction style includes both normal fiction style theory and short story style theory. To drama style, he is the first person to put forward tragedy style. To essay style, He put forward modern essay conceptions that underline application, literary grace and unification of content and form. With the establishment of Hu Shi's modern style theory. Chinese literature in 20 century turned from tender and gentle appearance into a new image, coming into world literature.At the same time, put Hu Shi's style theory into the process of Chinese modern literature's development, this- dissertation evaluates its unique significance in literary history and also summarizes its experiences and shortages. Hu Shi's style theory, innovating in ideology, is the hard foundation stone of Chinese modern literature's development. His theory, changed Chinese people's...