Documentary Evidence of Popular Literature Moving to Modernity through Rewriting——An Analysis of Yu Xuelun's Rewriting of Romance of West Chamber and Discussion on Rewriting Phenomenon and Significance of Modern Romantic Novel
Li Junguo1 Tan Hua1,2
1.Chinese Department, Huazhong University of Science and Technology,Wuhan 430074;2.School of Literature and Communication, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Duyun 558000
Abstract:In late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China,it became a common practice in the popular literature circles to create works by rewriting ancient romanitc classics.One of the popular writers in period of the Republic of China is Yu Xuelun whose rewriting of the Romance of the Western Chamber is a noteworthy phenomenon, which has important value and significance.His Historical Romance of the Western Chamber, compared with Wang Shifu's Romance of the Western Chamber, has the characteristics of classical Chinese mixed with vernacular Chinese, unity of speech and writing, elegance and popularity. Its narration of love changes from human feelings to romance, and from joy to sadness.This kind of rewriting is realized by adding and deleting authentic text, which embodies the author's view of “flaunting knowledge by novel”, the view of love tragedy, and the view of “reviving the soul and creating the book”.In addition to the Historical Romance of the Western Chamber, Nie Zuiren's Romance of Pipa and Jiang Yinxiang's Romance of Peach Blossom Fan are also examples of rewriting. Because of the intertextual relationship among them, these novels witness the emergence of modern characters of romantic novels.
李俊国 谭 华,. 通俗文学通过改写走向现代的书证——析喻血轮对《西厢记》的改写兼谈近代言情小说改写现象及意义[J]. 华中师范大学学报(人文社会科学版), 2020, 59(3): 76-83.
Li Junguo Tan Hua,. Documentary Evidence of Popular Literature Moving to Modernity through Rewriting——An Analysis of Yu Xuelun's Rewriting of Romance of West Chamber and Discussion on Rewriting Phenomenon and Significance of Modern Romantic Novel. journal1, 2020, 59(3): 76-83.