The Global Novel: a literature podcast

Episode 3 The Tso Chuan: Theorizing "Chuan" In Early Chinese Narratives

June 23, 2021 The Global Novel
The Global Novel: a literature podcast
Episode 3 The Tso Chuan: Theorizing "Chuan" In Early Chinese Narratives
Show Notes

In this episode, we will theorize "chuan" as a unique narrative genre in world literature and unpack its ontological untranslatability by first getting to know the historical background surrounding its completion, which will help us better understand why the narrative tradition of China is so different than that of the West. Due to the historical nature of the genre, We will also discuss the relationship between history and fiction by situating this dichotomy in Aristotle's poetics. Finally, we will hear about what Chinese scholars think of Tso Chuan's literary status in Chinese narrative tradition as well as how it has been understood for the West. 

Recommended book:
The Tso Chuan translated by Burton Watson

Audio clips regarding the background of Warring States period of China is from BBC radio In Our Times, with guest speakers Dr. Chris Cullen, Director of the Needham Research Institute at Cambridge University; Dr. Vivienne Lo, lecturer at the Wellcome Trust Center for the History of Medicine; Carol Michaelson, Assistant Keeper of Chinese Art in the Department of Oriental Antiquities at the British Museum. 








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