Qian Jibo’s Renaissance Of Stylistics

The argument between writing in classical Chinese and new-vernacular Chinese about 100 years ago has profoundly revolutionized people’s understanding of literature and expression approach of Chinese literature. On one hand, the Vernacular Movement had constructed and expanded its own legality, which, on the other hand, also have sheltered and squeezed self-expression of cultural conservative camp. It has indispensable meaning returning to the live historical scene with the recovering of the self-expression of these "tenacious low voices". This is why we should pay attention to Qian Jibo’s redefinition of literature and his modern renewal of stylistics. Qian shouldered the historical mission of the modern transition of literature study in a hard historical situation arguing between classical Chinese and new-vernacular Chinese. He carried on the past of Chinese ancient stylistics and opened a way for future to guard the classical scholarship. More importantly, his renaissance of stylistics has profound relevance with a hidden path of salvaging the country which can be described as "influencing national situation by national identity".This needs a new interpretation framework. In the preface, this paper draw support from Paul Ricoeur’s hermeneutics which provides a framework with historical reflection. That behind the argument between classical Chinese and new-vernacular Chinese is the paths’ divergence of the argument of stylistics, which divides into two paths, one belongs to vernacular camp and another belongs to classical camp. The construction of stylistics from vernacular camp is to replace the supreme concept "wen-ti" (ancient stylistics, which means literature legitimism) in Chinese stylistics by concepts like genre or style which are attached to the modern concept:literature. This is how written language system of modern nation state was constructed. Compared to the political identity indicated by vernacular camp’s construction of stylistics, the classical camp’s has more emphasis on cultural identity of civilization value. Here, we regard the argument of stylistics as a foreshadowing of Qian’s renewal action.Chapter 1 discussed the path, basis and function of Qian’s redefinition of literature. He goes beyond contemporaneous argument between classical Chinese and new-vernacular Chinese, and returns to the argument between parallel prose and essay, where there is a concept "wen" that is compatible with parallel prose and essay. The purpose of returning into the original "wen" is to find a fundamental understanding of "wen", which can be oriented to redefinition of literature. In accordance with the basis of fundamental and constant continuity through change, Qian could reactivate the way in which literature could civilize the country. In Qian’s words, "The nature of literature is beauty and its great function is to civilize"Chapter 2 reveals the internal constitutions of Qian Jibo’s renaissance of stylistics in detail. As with the definition way from "wen" to literature, Qian’s modern renaissance of stylistics has followed a classical approach although which with a new scientific sense. The method of induction-deduction from Yan Fu enlightens Qian to follow continuity through change in our time. To be more specific, Qian’s method of stylistics’ quartering still adhering to ancient poetry education. Qian’s way to adapt to the present is embodied in his two edited books, one of which is adapted the custom within the limit of classical Chinese and another regards vernacular literature as literature. Besides, Qian’s way to renewal the classics is also embodied in his two edited books, one of which explores rhetoric construction summarized from classical Chinese and another finds a way of pragmatic discrimination of stylistics during war time. The most significant work is his widely known book History of Modern Chinese Literature, that pervades with idea of continuity through change, and it also arouses controversy from vernacular and classical camp. But what we should pay attention to is its renewal intention when we put it in the perspective of modern renewal.Chapter 3 builds a hermeneutics relationship between stylistics and national identity, which also reveals a more abundant historical meaning in Qian’s modern renewal of stylistics. The renewal of stylistics is a constituent part of the National Study Revival Movement which means the renewal of ancient civilization. In Qian’s view, the National Study Revival Movement is a movement of self-awareness of national identity, which is a path of remolding national identity and civilization evolution. We could name the conservative salvation road the way of "influencing national situation by national identity". This salvation road is the final home of Qian’s renaissance of stylistics.So far, we have brought Qian Jibo’s renaissance of stylistics to light. The conclusion part gives a summary of Qian’s inner logic, that is from the argument of stylistics to the quarrel of the ancients and the moderns. It provides an interpretation in depth for reinterpretation of the live history of argument between writing in classical Chinese and new-vernacular Chinese. This paper also attempts to re-open the renaissance mission towards today.