Classical Prose Movement

The Classical Prose Movement (Chinese: 古文運動; pinyin: gǔwén yùndòng) of the late Tang dynasty and the Song dynasty in China advocated clarity and precision rather than the florid pianwen (駢體文) or parallel prose style that had been popular since the Han dynasty. Parallel prose had a rigid structure and came to be criticized for being overly ornate at the expense of content.

The aim of the guwen stylists was to follow the spirit of pre-Han prose rather than to imitate it directly. They used elements of colloquial language to make their writings more direct.

The movement also had political and religious aspects, as Confucian scholars tried to combat the influence of Taoism and Buddhism on the emperors. Some also saw it as an effective tool to expose the reality of corruption and weakness in the central government.

The first great promoters of the movement were Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan who were not only great writers but also great theorists, providing the foundation of the movement. Both were enthusiastic to promote the movement and were keen to teach young people so the movement could develop.

After the deaths of Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan, the movement fell into something of a decline, their students writing with such ancient characters as to hinder understanding or neglecting the importance of writing good essays. Furthermore, the government only allowed the use of pianwen for official use, so those who want to be officials had to learn that style.

The theme was picked up by Song dynasty reformer Fan Zhongyan, who held that prose writing, particularly writings required for civil service examinations, shall focus on statecraft and Confucian Classics, instead of euphonious composition. Fan's promotion of the "ancient style" served both political and ethical grounds, as he believed scholar officials with moral cultivation and administrative skills will improve government efficiency and commoner's lives. As such, the lettered class shall shift their focus from floridity to the substance of what they write.

Ouyang Xiu, a younger associate and avid follower of Fan Zhongyan, developed into a literary giant and leader in reviving the ancient style. Ouyang and his literary friends carried over the spirit of classical prose to poetry, and further to a larger effort to reform writing and learning in general. So that writing would be a vehicle for purpose and reflection, rather than a display of talent.

See also

• Chinese literature

Bibliography

• Egan, Ronald (2010). "The Northern Song (1020–1126)". In Owen, Stephen (ed.). The Cambridge history of Chinese literature. Vol. 1. Cambridge: Cambridge university press. ISBN 9780521855587.
• Sun, Wang; Chang, Guowu, eds. (1996). 宋代文学史- 上 [History of Song Literature] (in Chinese). Vol. I. 北京: 人民文学出版社. p. 110. ISBN 7-02-002118-2.

Further reading

• Chen, Yu-shih (1988). Images and Ideas in Chinese Classical Prose: Studies of Four Masters. Stanford: Stanford University Press. ISBN 0804714096.