Liu Yuxi Liu Zongyuan Prose Theory,

LiuYuxi and Liu Zongyuan, the two outstanding writers of the Tang Dynasty, were together referred to as " Liu Liu" because of their life-time friendship and comparably high achievements in writing. Liu Zonyuan, one of the "eight masters of Tang and Song", advocated traditional genre and his works not only changed the writing style of his age but also had great influence on the prose writing later. Liu Yuxi also had his own characteristics in his prose. It says in the四库全书总目提要that "Liu Yuxi had its own style, which is quite different from Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan." The study of Liu Zongyuan's prose has long been a hot topic and the study of Liu Yuxi's works is also in place, although not as much as that of Liu Zongyuan. However, not much has been done in the comparison of the two. With so much works left by the both writers, this essay will select and compare part of the fine characteristics of their prose and is aimed to deepen the study of the two by showing methodologies, topics, dictations, structures, expressions and theories used by the two writers.