Chinese Narratology

A milestone of Chinese narratological studies, Chinese Narratology is a two-volume set which establishes a unique theoretical system of Chinese narratology by exploring the principles and characteristics of Chinese narratives.

From argument to the conclusion, the book constitutes a forensic analysis of the context and connotations of Chinese culture and a close reading of Chinese literature classics, such as Romance of the Western Chamber, A Dream of Red Mansions, Outlaws of the Marsh, Romance of The Three Kingdoms, and The Plum in the Golden Vase. The book draws on both Western cultural resources and scholarship on narratology to unravel the unique features of Chinese narrative literature. It analyzes the distinctive characteristics of Chinese narratives in five aspects: structure, time, perspective, image, and commenter. The first volume introduces the cultural fundamentals that nurture Chinese narration and investigates the structure and time of Chinese narratives, while the second volume focuses on the latter three aspects. The set is a must-read for scholars and students interested in narrative theory, Chinese culture and literature, and the dialogue between Chinese and Western narratological studies.