Retired professor of Chinese and Comparative Literature, specialized in narrative forms of late imperial China. Translator of plays, short stories, and novels from the seventeenth century Ming-Qing transition period.
Recent decades have witnessed a striking change in the attitudes of students in American institut... more Recent decades have witnessed a striking change in the attitudes of students in American institutions of higher learning toward China as a subject for study. Whereas China formerly was ”exotic” because it was so old or so politically foreign to American students, now studying China is seen as an appropriate avenue to interesting employment and important careers. This has produced enormous increases in Chinese language course enrollments. But these changes bring new responsibilities to teachers: to the extent that we help shape the future through our students, we must balance our new emphases on shared political and economic ends with continued awareness of cultural differences. As China's interpreters to students in the West, we must engage new analytical paradigms in order to promote greater understanding among our peoples in the highly competitive global marketplace for goods and ideas.
Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews (CLEAR), 2004
The quality of entries varies in this collection of definitions and explanations by a number of h... more The quality of entries varies in this collection of definitions and explanations by a number of hands, and are not well coordinated. Not all are up-to-date, and several even contradict each other. Others are excellent in their precision and depth, although the work as a whole seems to lack coordination. The historical relationships among literary forms, the classical texts, major philosophical and religious traditions, for example, are not well developed. The Bibliography does not include entries in Chinese or Japanese, although a glossary of Chinese terms is provided. In sum, this History seems best suited for introductory or undergraduate students rather than as a guide for research.
Although the focus of this chapter is the literary representations of and reactions to the fall o... more Although the focus of this chapter is the literary representations of and reactions to the fall of the Ming in the seventeenth century, I will refer to two later ends of time(s) by way of contrast: when read against the fall of real dynasties, unconventional conclusions in Ming and Qing works of historical fiction reveal levels of political engagement and significance often overlooked by other readings. I begin by examining the beginnings of two novels.
this context because when later critics applied the word “Chan” to some of Wang Wei’s poetry, man... more this context because when later critics applied the word “Chan” to some of Wang Wei’s poetry, many of them used it to refer to Buddhism in general. A more concise summary of this topic would have helped the author, as well as the reader, to focus more on the interpretation of Wang Wei’s poetry. Generally speaking, though, this book has achieved its goal, which is to challenge conventional Chan criticism of Wang Wei’s poetry. It cautions us to be on alert against overinterpretation, which we, as critics and scholars, often tend to do in our works.
Western Han: A Yangzhou Storyteller’s Script. Edited by Vibeke Børdahl and Liangyan Ge. Nordic In... more Western Han: A Yangzhou Storyteller’s Script. Edited by Vibeke Børdahl and Liangyan Ge. Nordic Institute of Asian Studies Monographs, vol. 139. Copenhagen: NIAS Press, 2017. Pp. x + 742. £150, $200.
Recent decades have witnessed a striking change in the attitudes of students in American institut... more Recent decades have witnessed a striking change in the attitudes of students in American institutions of higher learning toward China as a subject for study. Whereas China formerly was ”exotic” because it was so old or so politically foreign to American students, now studying China is seen as an appropriate avenue to interesting employment and important careers. This has produced enormous increases in Chinese language course enrollments. But these changes bring new responsibilities to teachers: to the extent that we help shape the future through our students, we must balance our new emphases on shared political and economic ends with continued awareness of cultural differences. As China's interpreters to students in the West, we must engage new analytical paradigms in order to promote greater understanding among our peoples in the highly competitive global marketplace for goods and ideas.
Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews (CLEAR), 2004
The quality of entries varies in this collection of definitions and explanations by a number of h... more The quality of entries varies in this collection of definitions and explanations by a number of hands, and are not well coordinated. Not all are up-to-date, and several even contradict each other. Others are excellent in their precision and depth, although the work as a whole seems to lack coordination. The historical relationships among literary forms, the classical texts, major philosophical and religious traditions, for example, are not well developed. The Bibliography does not include entries in Chinese or Japanese, although a glossary of Chinese terms is provided. In sum, this History seems best suited for introductory or undergraduate students rather than as a guide for research.
Although the focus of this chapter is the literary representations of and reactions to the fall o... more Although the focus of this chapter is the literary representations of and reactions to the fall of the Ming in the seventeenth century, I will refer to two later ends of time(s) by way of contrast: when read against the fall of real dynasties, unconventional conclusions in Ming and Qing works of historical fiction reveal levels of political engagement and significance often overlooked by other readings. I begin by examining the beginnings of two novels.
this context because when later critics applied the word “Chan” to some of Wang Wei’s poetry, man... more this context because when later critics applied the word “Chan” to some of Wang Wei’s poetry, many of them used it to refer to Buddhism in general. A more concise summary of this topic would have helped the author, as well as the reader, to focus more on the interpretation of Wang Wei’s poetry. Generally speaking, though, this book has achieved its goal, which is to challenge conventional Chan criticism of Wang Wei’s poetry. It cautions us to be on alert against overinterpretation, which we, as critics and scholars, often tend to do in our works.
Western Han: A Yangzhou Storyteller’s Script. Edited by Vibeke Børdahl and Liangyan Ge. Nordic In... more Western Han: A Yangzhou Storyteller’s Script. Edited by Vibeke Børdahl and Liangyan Ge. Nordic Institute of Asian Studies Monographs, vol. 139. Copenhagen: NIAS Press, 2017. Pp. x + 742. £150, $200.
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