Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.2, 2024

The Continuity through Change of Classical Concepts of Literary Theory and Their Contemporaneity

(Abstract)

Han Wei

Classical Chinese concepts of literary theory are both a collective concept and a historical concept, showing a twisted state of the “bian” (change) of form and the “tong” (continuity) of spirit in the process of their development. It is the existence of the spirit of “tong” that gives them the validity of transcending time and space, and also constitutes the logical premise for discussing the contemporaneity of classical concepts of literary theory. In the contemporary context, it is necessary to reconsider the modern transformation of classical concepts of literary theory.