~(Index of Site)~
--the most successful genre in the literary scene ever since the May 4th Movement,with its achievements above novels,drama & poetry (as described by Lu Xun)
--prose includes 2 forms: 'za wen' (critical analysis) & 'san wen' (reflective composition)
Writers
1.Lu Xun (1881-1936)
--real name: Zhou Shu-ren
--the most important Chinese writer in modern literature,the greatest in fact
--1 of the principal founders of the New Intellectual Movement
--advocated the use of literature to voice out disastifaction of the corruptive times mercilessly without fail,with 'za wen' as a weapon against these evils that plagued China (refer to notes on the May 4th Movement)
--1 of the 'guiding spirits' behind the May 4th Movement
--characteristics of his prose:
a)fiercely satrical
b)directly criticising the current issues of the times in a descriptive & poetic manner
c)very precise in characterisation,favours the use of caricatures which are stereotypical of certain features that ills China
--other than 'za wen',he also writes 'san wen' on the narrative & sensual forms
--example of a sensual form: 'Wild Grass' ('Ye Cao') where a poetic ambience can be seen
--example of a descriptive form: 'Picking a flower that Bloomed in the morning' ('Zhao Hua Xi Shi')
that is an autobiography of his life in chronological order
--yet in all 3 forms,we can see the common characteristics present.
2.Zhu Zi Qing (1898-1948)
--very Western in style
--use of succint but effective language of poetic quality,of grace
--imaginative,emotional & sometimes abstract
--very sacarstic while discussing social issues
3.Bing Xing (1900-circa 1997)
--writes poetry
--her prose works focus on family relations,maternal love & children
--popular among the young & accessible to all ages,useful in school texts
4.Yu Dafu (1896-1945)
--his forte lies in travel writing,& diary narratives
--killed by Japanese in South East Asia
5.Zhou Zhuo-ren (1855-1967)
--the younger brother of Lu Xun
--style is plain & simple,detached from the world where he is easily satisfied by his works
--optimistic in his views of life
