Chinese Theories of Reading and Writing

Ming Dong Gu

Description

This ambitious work provides a systematic study of Chinese theories of reading and writing in intellectual thought and critical practice. The author maintains that there are two major hermeneutic traditions in Chinese literature: the politico-moralistic mainstream and the metaphysico-aesthetical undercurrent. In exploring the interaction between the two, Ming Dong Gu finds a movement toward interpretive openness. In this, the Chinese practice anticipates modern and Western theories of interpretation, especially literary openness and open poetics. Classic Chinese works are examined, including the Zhouyi (the I Ching or Book of Changes), the Shijing (the Book of Songs or Book of Poetry), and selected poetry, along with the philosophical background of the hermeneutic theories. Ultimately, Gu relates the Chinese practices of reading to Western hermeneutics, offering a cross-cultural conceptual model for the comparative study of reading and writing in general.

Preface

Introduction: Hermeneutic Openness: A Transcultural Phenomenon

The Rise of Hermeneutic Openness
Origins of Openness in China
Origins of Openness in the West
Paradoxes in Interpretive Theories
Two Hermeneutic Traditions in China
Objectives and Scope of Inquiry
Assumptions and Orientations

Part I: Conceptual Inquiries into Reading and Openness

1. Theories of Reading and Writing in Intellectual Thought

Reading in a Comparative Context
Mencius' Positive Thesis of Reading
Zhuangzi's Counterstatement
Mencius' Hermeneutic Circle
Zhuangzi's Wordless Communication
Views of Reading after Mencius and Zhuangzi
A Chinese Model of Reading and Writing

2. Hermeneutic Openness in Aesthetic Thought

Suggestiveness as an Aesthetic Category
Yiyin (Lingering Sound) and Yiwei (Lingering Taste)
Bujin zhiyi (Endless Meaning): Multivalence and Polysemy
Hanxu (Reserve): Unlimited Semiosis
Wu (Ontological Non-Being): Self-Generative Suggestiveness
Beyond Aesthetic Suggestiveness

Part II: Zhouyi Hermeneutics

3. The Zhouyi and Open Representation

The Zhouyi as a System of Representation
The Eight Trigrams as an Open System of Representation
The Mechanisms of Openness in Hexagram Images
Open Representation in Hexagram and Line Statements
Indeterminacy in Zhouyi's Genesis
Ideas of Openness in Zhouyi Intellectual Thought
A Semiotic Model of Reading and Representation
The Source of the Zhouyi's Seductive Power

4. Elucidation of Images: Ancient Insights into Modern Ideas of Reading and Writing

Situating The Hermeneutic Controversy
Mingxiang as a Hermeneutic Issue
Wang Bi as an Innovative Synthesizer
The Controversy over "Forgetting Images"
A Distinction between Meaning and Significance
Premodern Husserlians and Heideggerians
The Death of the Author and Rise of the Reader
Conceptual Significance of the Paradigm shift
Concluding Remarks

Part III: Shijing Hermeneutics

5. The Shijing and Open Poetics

Literary Openness in the Shijing
The Open Textuality of "Guanju"
Textual and Extratextual Indeterminacy
A Notion of Open Field
Paronomastic Reading and Writing

6. Shijing Hermeneutics: Blindness and Insight

In Search of Original Intentions
Two Paradigms: One Orientation
Indeterminate Subject Position
From Allegory To Open Readings
A Writing Model of Intertextual Dissemination

Part IV: Literary Hermeneutics

7. Open Poetics in Chinese Poetry

Spatial Form and Linguistic Economy
The "Eye" of Openness
Symbiosis of Opposite Aesthetic Feelings
Metaphysical Emptiness
Serial Form and Oriented Openness

8. Linguistic Openness and the Poetic Unconscious

Openness and Poetic Language
Openness and Syntactic Ambiguity
Dream Language and the Poetic Unconscious
Juxtaposition and Multidetermination
Metaphor, Metonymy and Signifying Practice
The "Soul" of Openness

Conclusion. Toward A Self-Conscious Open Poetics in Reading and Writing

How Open Is A Literary Text?
Le Mot Juste and Endless Meaning
Hermeneutic Openness Is A Positive Thing

Notes

Works Ci

Sujets

• Literary theory
• China

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791483473
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 6 Mo

Extrait

Chinese Theories of Reading and Writing

SUNY series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture

Roger T. Ames, editor

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2005 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207

Production by Judith Block Marketing by Anne Valentine

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data Gu, Ming Dong, 1955– Chinese theories of reading and writing: a route to hermeneutics and open poetics/Ming Dong Gu. p. cm.—(Suny series in chinese philosophy and culture) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-6423-7 (alk. paper) 1. Chinese classics—History and criticism. 2. Hermeneutics. I. Title. II. Series. PL2461. Z7G8 2005 895. 1¢09—dc22 2004016207

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Chinese Theories of Reading and Writing

A Route to Hermeneutics and Open Poetics

Ming Dong Gu

State University of New York Press

To the memory of my father, Gu Shirong (1929–2000) and my mother, Xu Hongzuo (1931–2000)

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Preface

Contents

Introduction. Hermeneutic Openness: A Transcultural Phenomenon The Rise of Hermeneutic Openness Origins of Openness in China Origins of Openness in the West Paradoxes in Interpretive Theories Two Hermeneutic Traditions in China Objectives and Scope of Inquiry Assumptions and Orientations

Part I Conceptual Inquiries into Reading and Openness Chapter 1. Theories of Reading and Writing in Intellectual Thought Reading in a Comparative Context Mencius’ Positive Thesis of Reading Zhuangzi’s Counterstatement Mencius’ Hermeneutic Circle Zhuangzi’s Wordless Communication Views of Reading after Mencius and Zhuangzi A Chinese Model of Reading and Writing

Chapter 2. Hermeneutic Openness in Aesthetic Thought Suggestiveness as an Aesthetic Category Yiyin(Lingering Sound) andYiwei(Lingering Taste) Bujin zhiyi(Endless Meaning): Multivalence and Polysemy

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17 17 18 22 25 32 35 43

45 46 49 54

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Contents Hanxu(Subtle Reserve): Unlimited Semiosis Wu(Ontological Non-Being): Self-Generative Suggestiveness Beyond Aesthetic Suggestiveness

Part IIZhouyiHermeneutics Chapter 3. TheZhouyiand Open Representation TheZhouyias a System of Representation The Eight Trigrams as an Open System of Representation The Mechanisms of Openness in Hexagram Images Open Representation in Hexagram and Line Statements Indeterminacy in theZhouyi’s Genesis Ideas of Openness inZhouyiIntellectual Thought A Semiotic Model of Reading and Representation The Source of theZhouyi’s Seductive Power

Chapter 4. Elucidation of Images: Ancient Insights into Modern Ideas of Reading and Writing Situating the Hermeneutic Controversy Mingxiangas a Hermeneutic Issue Wang Bi as an Innovative Synthesizer The Controversy over “Forgetting Images” A Distinction between Meaning and Significance Premodern Husserlians and Heideggerians The Death of the Author and Rise of the Reader Conceptual Significance of the Paradigm Shift Concluding Remarks

Part IIIShijingHermeneutics Chapter 5. TheShijingand Open Poetics Literary Openness in theShijing The Open Textuality of “Guanju” Textual and Extratextual Indeterminacy A Notion of Open Field Paronomastic Reading and Writing

Chapter 6.ShijingHermeneutics: Blindness and Insight In Search of Original Intentions Two Paradigms: One Orientation Indeterminate Subject Position From Allegory to Open Readings A Writing Model of Intertextual Dissemination

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81 83 84 87 92 97 101 103 111

113 114 117 119 124 129 138 142 146 149

153 154 158 168 170 176

181 181 186 188 193 196

Contents Part IV Literary Hermeneutics Chapter 7. Open Poetics in Chinese Poetry Spatial Form and Linguistic Economy The “Eye” of Openness Symbiosis of Opposite Aesthetic Feelings Metaphysical Emptiness Serial Form and Oriented Openness

Chapter 8. Linguistic Openness and the Poetic Unconscious Openness and Poetic Language Openness and Syntactic Ambiguity Dream Language and the Poetic Unconscious Juxtaposition and Multidetermination Metaphor, Metonymy, and Signifying Practice The “Soul” of Openness

Conclusion. Toward A Self-Conscious Open Poetics in Reading and Writing How Open Is A Literary Text? Le Mot Justeand Endless Meaning Hermeneutic Openness Is a Positive Thing

Notes Works Cited Index

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