Shen Yue and the Changes in Quoting the Classical Allusions in the Qi and Liang Dynasties              

Sun Bao

Abstract: The style of quoting the classical allusions pioneered by Yan Yanzhi and Xie Zhuang had gradually become rigid in the Qi and Liang Dynasties, and formed the abuse of always saying the Confucian Classics and piecing together the article with the Classics. As a consummate scholar on Confucian studies, Shen Yue made innovations in at least four aspects while simultaneously applying the style of quoting the classical allusions. First, on the basis of citing the Confucian Classics, Shen included new materials from the branches of philosophy and history, as well as the masterpieces in the Han and Jin Dynasties in connection with the themes with strong official colors such as imperial sacrificial rites and official feast, thus ensuring the elegant style and pursuing novel citation. Second, he jokingly drew up the amanuensis, making the style of quoting the classical allusions more interesting and erudite. Third, he advocated the theory of “three easiness”, i.e. easy to understand, easy wording, and easy to chant, which actively avoided comprehension difficulty cause by pretentious erudition, and took graceful and fluent rhythm as the important standard of literary appraisal. Fourth, he regarded the Confucian Classics as the paradigm of literary works, valued free emotion and natural scenery, and advocated a naturalized style of writing that speaking one’s mind and expressing sentiment in describing things. By leading and supporting the young scholars, Shen also promoted dissemination of the aesthetic standard of novel citation, rich meaning, and graceful rhythm in the literary world during the middle and late Qi Dynasty, as well as had a direct impact on the creation atmosphere that valuing the literature and neglecting the Tao, and separating literature and the Classics in the Qi and Liang Dynasties.