Paul Hsiang Lecture Series on Chinese Poetry - Tina Lu

Abstract:

Since the Mao Commentary (ca. 2nd–1st centuries BCE), “poetics” in Chinese has denoted truth-telling through words. But poetry was not the only way that premodern Chinese people understood verbal conduits from the self to the world. Focusing on the relationship between neo-Confucian yulu (“recorded sayings”) and huaben (“vernacular short stories”), I will be examining another tradition of “poetics,” or how premodern Chinese people denoted the truth. Along the way, I will be considering tongsu (common language)–not merely as a synonym for baihua (vernacular), that twentieth-century nationalized language for writing–nor as a vehicle for meaning, but instead as a medium, where what is medium and what is content is ever shifting.

For those interested, you are welcome to watch this 10-minute introduction by Prof. Lu on Ming-dynasty (14th–17th centuries) popular culture before the lecture.
https://video.afe.easia.columbia.edu/video/introduction-to-ming-dynasty-fiction/

Reception to Follow, Please RSVP at https://forms.office.com/r/wecEzNbcQ8