ON THE COLLECTIVE TITLE OF “HAN LIU” IN THE VIEW OF CRITICISM DURING TANG AND FIVE DYNASTIES

Abstract

Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan have been called “Han Liu” for their modle of prose. They are also treated as the leader promoting the stylistic innovation. Most books about the history of Chinese literature and classical prose hold this view. But that is inconsistent with historical facts. In fact, Han Yu and Liu Zong yuan were not both treated as the leader promoting the stylistic innovation at the same time during their lifetime. Han Yu had already been treated as Master of literature but the effect of Liu Zongyuan was much weaker. The Collective Title of “Han Liu” and the view that they both was treated as the leader promoting the stylistic innovation appeared in Late Tang and fell into a pattern in Song dynasty.