“Studies of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) literature still have room for improvement. They represent a new driving force for advancing research of ancient Chinese literature,” Mo Lifeng, professor at the School of Literature at Nanjing University, said at an international academic symposium on August 16.

Jointly organized by the Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Literature and East Asian Civilization at Nanjing University and the Editorial Department of Literary Heritage under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the symposium was attended by nearly 40 experts and scholars from CASS, Sun Yat-sen University, Fudan University and Nanjing University.

In 2011, Zhou Mingchu, a professor at the School of Humanities at Zhejiang University, claimed in his article published in the Literary Heritage journal that studies of poems from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties have gradually gained popularity as represented by the rising number featured in essays.

“Compared to previous dynasties, the quantity of literature from the Qing Dynasty is plentiful, showcasing communication between literati,” said Cao Hong, professor at the School of Liberal Arts at Nanjing University, adding that researchers who engage in studying Qing Dynasty literature should make greater contributions to understanding the behaviors and spirits of China’s ancient literati.

Qing Dynasty literature overstepped every other dynasty in terms of the subject matter and artistic expression, said Jiang Yin, a research fellow at the Institute of Literature at CASS.

Jiang claimed that it is difficult to research the history of literature from the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1276) dynasties due to limited historical materials, but the situation is different for the Qing Dynasty.

Zhang Hongsheng, also a professor at the School of Liberal Arts at Nanjing University, noted that researchers need to make proper judgments of historical materials.

Zhang noted that there is an abundance of resources that help us better understand Qing Dynasty literature. “Researchers should understand Qing Dynasty literature by transcending geographical boundaries,” said Cao, adding that the emerging “East Asian Vision” needs to be used and deepened by researchers in the research process.

“It is necessary to contextualize phenomena when studying Qing Dynasty literature,” said Xu Yanping, a professor at the School of Liberal Arts at Nanjing University.

The Chinese version appeared in Chinese Social Sciences Today, No. 636, August 20, 2014.

The Chinese link: http://www.cssn.cn/zx/bwyc/201408/t20140820_1298490.shtml

　　Translated by Chen Meina

　　Revised by Tom Fearon