Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.1, 2020 

The Reconstruction of the Mission and Value in Scholar Prose

(Abstract)

Wang Zhaosheng

The sense of mission, an excellent tradition of Chinese prose, was highlighted at the beginning of the Reform and Opening-up Period. In the 1990s, the main focus of prose was history and academic research, whereas the political reality was absent. In this regard, scholar prose has the function of rectifying this deviation: on the one hand, scholars pay attention to the reality and reflect on human fate  with an international perspective; on the other hand, they are sensitive about social issues, especially crucial issues relating to China’s Reform and Opening-up. In terms of life quality and spiritual profoundness, scholar prose focuses on a world vision, on cosmic consciousness and on human sentiments, all the while emphasizing cultural consciousness, modernity and foresight. It attaches importance to intellectuals, consciousness of the elite, enlightenment thought. It also, emphasizes rational and dialectical thinking as well as critical consciousness, all of which set a high standard for prose in new times. In addition, scholar prose ought to realize self-enlightenment and value reconstruction in the following ways: first, to improve the intentional ability of self-examination and self-reflection; second, to pay attention to the optimization of inner cultivation and inner prospect; third, to distinguish between “individuality” and “collectiveness.” The truly outstanding scholar prose should create tension, between reality and fantasy, rationality and sensibility, modernity and tradition, knowledge and thought, individuality and collectiveness,  microcosm and macrocosm, self-confidence and modesty, criticism and introspection, and finally, between history and future.