Welcome to Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art,

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art ›› 2016, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (6): 123-129.

• Classical Literary Theory and Criticism • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Prefaces and Postscripts in Early Dunhuang Bianwen and the Establishment of Research Paradigm for Modern Folk Literature

Wang Yajing, Sun Xun   

  1. the School of Humanities and Communications of Shanghai Normal University (Shanghai 200234, China)
  • Online:2016-11-25 Published:2017-09-30
  • About author:Wang Yajing is a Ph.D. student in the School of Humanities and Communications of Shanghai Normal University (Shanghai 200234, China), with research interest in classical Chinese literature. Sun Xun is a professor in the School of Humanities and Communications of Shanghai Normal University (Shanghai 200234, China), with research interest in classical Chinese literature and urban studies.

Abstract: Top scholars in China attracted by findings of Dunhuang Bianwen in 1907 sorted out these newfound materials and wrote prefaces and postscripts for them, which indicated their understanding of various aspects related to Bianwen. Firstly, studies of Bianwen's value brought folk literature to modern academics; secondly, the differentiation and analysis of Bianwen's literary forms opened up the path of emphasizing intrinsic characteristics of literature; thirdly, textual criticism on origins and development of stories in Bianwen introduced an important and new research method for narrative literature. All these paradigms and outlines of Bianwen studies established earlier have displayed Chinese academics' achievement in the 20th century and have been helpful to establish research paradigms for Chinese folk literature.

Key words: Dunhuang Bianwen, prefacesand postscripts in early Dunhuang Bianwen, research paradigms for folk literature