VALUING EMOTIONS (QING) AND SENTIMENTALITY: THE AESTHETIC CHANGES OF LYRIC (CI) IN LATE MING AND EARLY QING

From late Ming to early Qing, song lyric, or ci, experienced stylistic transformation, and the previous decline of ci in the Ming dynasty also witnessed a renaissance in the Qing. This dissertation attempts to study the internal factor of these changes by analyzing the aesthetic trend of valuing emotions and sentimentality in lyrics, so as to reveal the transformation of aesthetic development that showed the shift from one’s innermost feelings to an object’s allegorical meanings. In this dissertation, textual analysis is based on the use of diction, imagery, syntax, allusions, and prosody to analyze aesthetic characteristics in ci. Furthermore, the development of literary thought will be considered in the analysis.

Author dc:creator

• GAO BIN

• Valuing emotions, Sentimentality, Song lyric, Aesthetic changes,Late Ming and early Qing, The renaissance of lyric in Qing