2018 AAS DC call for panel participants: " Chinese Literature, religion and philosophy in the literary and film/TV drama genres of legends of gods, fairies, demons 仙俠傳."

Yu Min Claire Chen Announcement
Location
Virginia, United States
Subject Fields
Film and Film History, Humanities, Literature

" Chinese Literature, religion and philosophy in the literary and film/TV drama genres of legends of gods, fairies, demons 仙俠傳."

Starting from the earliest myths which appear in the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing) in the 4th century BC, the literary genre of gods, fairies, demons and knights evolved through history.  Xu Zhonglin in the Ming Dynasty wrote The Investiture of Gods (Fengshen Yanyi) about gods and demons and set its backdrop in the late Shang dynasty. The Qing Dynasty writer Yuan Mei’s What the Master Would Not Discuss (zǐbùyǔ), records what topics of discussion Confucius forbids, such as strange events, violence, riots and supernatural things. The Qing Dynasty writer Li Ruzhen wrote a fantasy novel called the Flowers in the Mirror (Jìnghuāyuán). Pu Songling’s Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (Liaozhai Zhiyi ) is a collection about marvel stories about foxes, immortals and ghosts, it also serves as a social criticism.  Contemporary films and dramas such as The Painted Skins, originated from Pu Songling’s Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. The Chinese Paladin, , and the legends of gods and knights inspired by the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing) have  become very influential, having been made into films, TV dramas and even video games.

The theme spans from Confucian ideas, Chinese religions of Buddhism and Daoism, mythology, to philosophy and the ideas of reincarnation. The panel solicits papers that deal with:

 

 

  • Traditional Chinese myths, legends on gods, immortals, ghosts, fairies and knights
  • Chinese epic, knighthood, and magical journeys
  • Revisions into popular media, films and TV dramas
  • Chinese philosophy and religion in the genre of immortals or knight 
Contact Information

 

 Yu Min Claire Chen

yumchen@umail.iu.edu

Contact Email
yumchen@umail.iu.edu