The Humanization of Nature: The Renaissance and “Nature” in Early Modern Chinese Literature

Abstract

Abstract: “Nature” as an important concept in the history of ideas provides a perspective for understanding the relationship between The Renaissance collective and the history of new literature. The Renaissance collective elevated “nature” as a fundamental narrative focus, notably through the innovation of landscape poetry, which marked the forefront of literary modernization. This initiative spawned a critical discourse juxtaposing “nature” and “life”, rooted in an amalgamation of contemporary natural philosophies. Through this discourse, the collective advocated for a “humanization of nature”, a concept positioning the material world as the cornerstone of new literary exploration. This conceptualization fostered a diversified intellectual engagement with “nature”, thereby enriching the theoretical landscape of modern literature. The Renaissance collective's theorization on the “humanization of nature” stands as their seminal contribution to the philosophical underpinnings of new literature and exemplifies their ideological evolution.

Key words: nature, life, The Renaissance, new literature

Wei Mingxing. The Humanization of Nature: The Renaissance and “Nature” in Early Modern Chinese Literature[J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2024, 44(2): 93-100.

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