Abstract

This article examines the formation of literary theory in Chinese new novel discourse through the 『Shosetsu Shinzui(小說神髓)』 thesis of Tsubouchi Shoyo(坪内逍遥) of Japan. To this end, this paper focuses on 『Shosetsu Shinzui』's 「Introduction to Novel(小說總論)」 and 「Novel's Benefits(小說の裨益)」, which are the core of literary theory, and discusses the following two issues. First, Shoyo's “Introduction to Novel” and Chinese scholars' discussion on the true meaning of novel, and second, the modern interpretation of novel=art and novel's benefits. Specifically, This article examines the arguments raised by Tsubouchi Shoyo in Introduction to Novel regarding the purpose and efficacy of art, including its main theme, and the related arguments of Chinese commentators such as Lishaojushi(蠡勺居士)·Liang Qichao(梁啓超)·Wang Guowei(王國維)·Huang Moxi(黃摩西)·Xu Nianci(徐念慈)-on the novel True Meaning(本義). In other words, this article examines the formation of literary theory in Chinese new novel discourse, starting with Lishaojushi's discourse on the novel's true meaning and then examining the subsequent development of the discussion on the novel's true meaning. Next, in relation to the issue of the utilitarianism of novels raised by Tsubouchi Shoyo in 「Novel's Benefits」, the relevant discourses in the Chinese new novel discourse are examined, and the juxtaposition of views on benefits by Shoyo and Chinese commentators is scrutinized.

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