Chen Zi’ang And The Revolution Of Parallel Proses Of Early Tang Dynasty

Chen Zi’ang had play an important role in changing the writing styles of early Tang Dynasty.In terms of literature theory, he held a banner of strength of characters in Chinese Han and Wei and pursued metaphor and contrast in writing poems, being opposed to exaggerated writing styles. The parallel proses written by Chen Zi’ang are substantial in content with sincere feelings and of great momentum. His parallel proses are unique both in content and art. Following “Four Outstanding Poets”, Chen Zi’ang has a profoundly influence on the poets of later dynasties, including Yan and Xu.This article has been divided into five parts to discuss Chen Zi’ang and the revolution of parallel proses of early Tang Dynasty, specific as follows:The first part gives a brief introduction of parallel proses creation, protection and research from home and aboard of Chen Zi’ang.The second part is chapter one, mainly describes the literary standpoint of Chen Zi’ang. From his perspective, the literature creation since Six Dynasties is over-polished and neglects the content. Chen Zi’ang believed that literature creation should innovate through learning from ancient times. He bolstered strength of characters in Chinese Han and Wei, balanced the value between form and content and emphasized on the combination of literature and reality. Reflecting and revealing the social reality, the literature creation should be teemed with rich content, sincere feelings. Meanwhile, sadness, generosity, energy and freshness should be embodied in writing parallel proses.The third part is chapter two, mainly depicts the main content of parallel prose of Chen Zi’ang. Without the romantic elements, the topic of Chen Zi’ang paid more attention to the affairs of government and common people, political views on stopping wars, punishment and talents employments, concerns on relatives and friends and so on. Chen Zi’ang made a big breakthrough in literature creation, which differs from that of Six Dynasties. His parallel proses are often written without reason.The forth part is chapter three, mainly introduces the innovation in art. Targeting at the abuse in parallel proses creation in Six Dynasties, Chen Zi’ang learnt from poets in Han and Wei Dynasty, adding the loose sentences in parallel proses. He extracted the pith of loose sentences and parallel proses and used them in proper way. As a consequence, his passages are simple, elegant and quiet without overstatement and complex sentences. His proses are not demanding in sound. Ultimately, his writing styles become natural and plain, flexible and free and fluent and unconventional.The fifth part is chapter four, mainly discusses the status and influence of parallel proses of Chen Zi’ang. Following the footprints of “Four Outstanding Poets”, Chen Zi’ang deeply corrected the abuse in literature creation of early Tang Dynasty. Under the influence of Chen Zi’ang, Yan Xu and Lu Zhi made a clean sweep of abuse in Sui Dynasty, generally created a prosperous environment for parallel proses and ushered a more splendid atmosphere of Tang literature. The parallel proses created by Chen Zi’ang have become the pioneer of ancient literature movement in middle Tang Dynasty.