Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.3, 2021

Qing Dynasty Self-Commentaries on Classical Prose as Paratexts

(Abstract)

Yu Zukun

Regarding Chinese history of literary criticism, some writers in the Qing Dynasty commented their own classical proses, and attached the commentaries to their individual collections of works. Such self-commentaries demonstrate these prose writers’confidence in the Qing culture and literature as well as their talents, serving as essential building blocks of intellectual and cultural history. Also, they contribute to the history of criticism for presenting fresh trends and features in the dynasty. Rich concepts and theories of prose writing, coupled with lively landscapes and details about prose criticism, make self-commentaries a unique form of paratext.