鄭寅普의 古文 文章論

Abstract

This thesis examines Jeong In Bo's (鄭寅普, 1893-1950) literary theory for ancient prose (古文). Jeong In Bo insisted that literature (文) should be something that purely expressed one's own truthfulness (眞), and he emphasized that authors should express their own thoughts (意) without regard to external norms while writing. He also presented a method to intensify one's own thought (意) by changing and deepening it in layers (層變深入). Meanwhile, he placed the emphasis on inner force (氣) rather than thought, as he considered that one could only express one's thought completely with inner force. In particular, he emphasized using one's inner force daringly, since he favored responding to the times over resting on the past. Therefore, he criticized the traditional intellectuals who simply followed Tong Cheng Pai (桐城派), whereas he highly valued Zhang Tai Yan (章太炎) who produced scholastic achievements in response the present based on traditional learning. In short, pursuing the ancient and awakening the modern (追古醒今) was the essential goal underlying his learning and writing. With this ambition, he hoped to succeed in ancient prose and to innovate within the genre.