This volume aims to account for the tremendous changes in the attitudes towards the world and towards themselves that can be seen in the works of Chinese writers in the early centuries of the Christian era. How do the massive conversion of such a large part of the population to Buddhism and the widespread development of the Daoist religion correspond to the conversion of the West to Christianity? Does this conversion to new religions that were replacing the ancient imperial religions represent similar developments on the eastern and western fringes of the Old World? Can we speak with any confidence of the gradual evolution of China from an 'Antiquity' to a 'Middle Ages'? The author attempts to show that, in their attitudes towards literature and their appreciation of landscape, during the Han and the first four centuries of the Christian era, we can see signs of a turning inward and the birth of new forms of spirituality akin to those that arose in the West during the same period.

About the Author
Donald Holzman, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris, France

Reviews
Joint review of Immortals, Festivals, and Poetry in Medieval China and Chinese Literature in Transition from Antiquity to the Middle Ages 'For over forty years Donald Holzman has been a leading figure in the study of early medieval Chinese literature...A selection of his articles has now been brought together in two volumes from Ashgate's 'Variorum' series, which will greatly ease the library labours of students and scholars wishing to consult this or that article in journal, conference volume, or Festschrift...A third volume of new articles will soon need to be added to the two we have here. The Holzman A"uvre is one of the most significant contributions to Sinology in the last half-century and it continues to grow.' Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 119, No. 3



Book Information
ISBN 9780860786894
Author Donald Holzman
Format Hardback
Page Count 350
Imprint Variorum
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 800g