Tradition, Strategy, and Cultural Significance of Suggestive Irony in West Han Rhapsody – Taking Sima Xiangru and Yang Xiong as Examples
Date Issued
2014
Date
2014
Author(s)
Hu, Chi
Abstract
Not following the Chinese literary tradition centered on figures and their characters, Han rhapsody (Han Fu) always seems to be put at the periphery of literary criticism -- either dismissed as only singing praises of the royalty, or valued for its craft of depicting. However, in the opinion of intellectuals during Han dynasty, the rhapsody was once expected to be the new classic that succeeds the Classic Odes (Shijing). The contrast between these two evaluations reflects two different value and practices of literature. Therefore, this thesis aims to reconstruct the field of the production of rhapsody, and the view of literature particular to it. By discussing the rhapsodies of Sima Xiangru and Yang Xiong and related historical documents, this thesis hopes to offer another basis for the criticism of Han rhapsody.
In Han, the discourse of the relationship between the classic odes and rhapsodies suggests the latter inherit the idea of "suggestive irony". "Suggestive irony" is not only a mean to persuade the emperor, but also to cultivate a way of seeing and feeling for through affecting the reader in a particular way. Because of the revolution in the social and political environment and the change of the relationship between a majesty and his subjects, rhapsodies have taken the strategy to make readers feel, as compared to how classic odes make readers empathize. By exaggeration, parody and the use of compelling descriptions, rhapsodies force readers to leave their habitual mode of perceptions, and so to re-evaluate the discrepancies between facts and judgments. This kind of suggestive irony culture also reminds the emperor to keep a fresh perception, rather than drown in the increasingly decorative literary style and abstract values.
To sum up, this thesis hopes to put literature back to its original function of communication. Studying the special relationship between the author and the readers, and the obvious purposefulness of Han rhapsody, I will demonstrate another possible way of studying literature, which is quite different from the author/text-based studies of lyric/narrative tradition.
Subjects
漢賦
詩賦淵源
諷諭
諫
文學侍從
經驗
司馬相如
揚雄
Type
thesis
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