A Study On Wang Zhongqi's Thought Of Literature And Art

Enlightenment and citizens education both are important topics during the late Qing Dynasty to present.Wang Zhongqi,as a writer,a well-known newspaperman and a revolutionary who lives in Yangzhou during the end of Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China,his substantial and profound thoughts once had important influence in that turbulent era.Wang Zhongqi's literary works and theoretical studies are closely focused on the transformation of the new and old Chinese society,which aiming at inspiring wisdom of people and arousing the consciousness of national salvation.Wang Zhongqi's thoughts on literature,art and religion are all based on the political-historical context.Wang Zhongqi wrote many articles which topics involved literature,art,religion,et cetera.But if we would like to understand his insights as a whole,it will be necessary to find out a fundamental standpoint of his whole life thinking.This thesis suggests that Wang Zhongqi's all works show which concern to seek an approach to be independent and powerful again.In order to sum up Wang Zhongqi's theory,this thesis attempted to us a term,Wang Zhongqi's Literature and Art Thought,to induce his approach.This paper discusses Wang Zhongqi's Literature and Art Thought from three aspects:"Literature:Ancient and Modern","Modern Theatre and Civil Enlightenment" and "Reform Religion ".The third chapter demonstrates Wang Zhongqi's view of literature and history in The general trend of literary change in China for four thousand years.Through combing the development history of Chinese literature,Wang Zhongqi proposed that "advancing changes","seeking truth" and "appling the knowledge" are the sources of continuous and prosperous development of Chinese literature.According to the problems of "ancient","present","Chinese" and "western" in the development of literature at that time,this view point puts forward a framework of literature development with a broader vision.The fourth chapter briefly discusses Wang Zhongqi's own idea of modern drama and theatre.Wang points out that the theatre could be an important approach to educate and cultivate people.The fifth chapter analyses Wang Zhongqi's observation of a series of spiritual puzzles in the society at that time.With the help of Wang Zhongqi's idea,we can review the significance of religion in the historical situation at that time.Wang Zhongqi's Literature and Art Thoughts is a positive reflection of modern intellectuals on social issues under the national crisis,and also a difficult profile of traditional scholars who have to strive for transformation in order to preserve Chinese traditional treasure under the impact of Western Studies.Understanding Wang Zhongqi's Literature and Art Thought is not only helpful for us to comprehend the ideological debate between the "Xueheng" and the "New Youth",but also helpful for us to re-understand the formation process of modern Chinese thoughts.