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당일레포트
On the day of the event, Yang Huijing, a special research student at Kyoto University, presented on the subject of “What is a ‘gift preface’ (Jp. zōjo, Ch. zengxu)?” Around ten gathered for the session.
First, Mr. He introduced what “gift preface” is as a form. Then, after presenting on his investigation of the Qing editor Yao Nai’s process of selecting gift prefaces for his Guwen cileizhuan (『古文辭類纂』), Mr. He shared his own opinion on the matter. In discussing the gift preface as a form in the modern era, Mr. He cited Wu Zengqi’s Wenti chuyan (『文體芻言』). Additionally, He Zhehan also examined the views of scholars such as Zeng Guofan on the role that gift prefaces performed. Lastly, he discussed how the gift preface as a form is now being assessed.
The following discussion then took up issues such the definition of a prefaces and postscripts (Jp. jobatsu, Ch. xüba), differences and similarities in content between the two and gift prefaces, and the Tang and Song literati’s opinion on gift prefaces, eventually arriving at a discussion on the relationship between gift prefaces and poetry prefaces. From there, a discussion on the two tendencies of poetry prefaces also unfolded.
We would like to express our most sincere gratitude to Mr. He Zhehan, who provided the topic for discussion, to the professors who provided guidance, and to those who helped to stimulate the discussions.
Written by Qiu Siyuan, PhD Candidate, Kyoto University.
