| Abstract |
In recent years, scholars have been paying attention to the methodology of aesthetics, which, however, has barely been applied to the study of ancient prose. To make up for this lack, this paper attempts to employ basic concepts of aesthetics to the aesthetic value of Han Yu′s and Liu Zongyuan′s ancient prose. First, I have begun by Han′s and Liu′s profound observation of social reality to discuss generally the object of beauty in their ancient prose and the aesthetic requirements of its language form. Secondly, at the basis of Han′s and Liu′s attentive understanding of nature and their reflections on representation and imitation, I have affirmed the formation of the “natural beauty” of their prose, for which Liu had more works and enjoyed a better reputation than Han. Thirdly, I have discussed how Han and Liu combined subject and object, content and form, to create the “artistic beauty: of Tang ancient prose. Following this argument, I have shown that, by way of advocating the method of “writing ancient prose to promote the way (dao),” Han and Liu have “established their own styles,” and even broken through the old generic conventions by blending various literary styles. Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan have eventually achieved great success for making prose an art of intellectual activity. |
