On Meteorological Literature

Abstract

Like the theory of TCM,the meteorological literature,a type of literary genre with distinct Chinese characteristics,is also based on the theory of qi in the ancient Chinese philosophy and is branded with the ancient Chinese outlook on nature and mode of thinking. With the awakening of the subject consciousness in the Wei-Jin Period,the Chinese people's world view shifted from "the unity of man and nature" to "man's mission to conquer nature". This led to corresponding changes in literature:in literary themes,the focus shifted from weather phenomena to season phenomena; in genres and styles,the confinement to mythologies and allegories was replaced by an explosion of new literary forms including poems,songs and odes. Facing the challenges from the modern university education system and the advocacy of science,modern Chinese scholars like Zhang Junli and Liang Qichao launched a campaign to define science and people's world view,trying to protect arts and religion from being conquered by science. Despite their great efforts,they were finally defeated. Consequently,the creation of and studies on meteorological literature are deprived of spiritual contents; what has been left is only form and skills. Today,Chinese modern literature is increasingly narrow in its vision due to an overemphasis on the relationship between man and society and the relationship between man and himself. To rise above this narrowness depends on the recourse to Chinese ancient meteorological literary tradition which is characterized by its focus on the relationship between man and nature. Therefore,to strengthen the studies on meteorological literature also constitutes a necessary step to carry forward Chinese traditional culture.