Ancient Chinese Literary Theory Differs from the West

There are obvious differences between ancient Chinese literary theory and Western literary theory in several aspects. The following are some of the major comparisons:

1. Ontological features: Western literary theories emphasize the reproduction of literary works, focusing on the works' imitation and reproduction of real life; while Chinese literary theories pay more attention to the expressive nature of literary works, emphasizing on the emotional expression and personality expression.

2. Conceptual meaning: In terms of conceptual categories, the terms and definitions of ancient Chinese literature are different from those of Western literature, e.g., "literature" has multiple meanings in ancient Chinese literature, referring to both literary works and language and writing, while in Western literature, "literature" and "language" have multiple meanings, referring to both literary works and writing. In the Western literature, "literature" and "language" are two relatively independent fields.

3. Literary concepts: Ancient Chinese literature emphasizes the wholeness and context of literary works, and pays attention to the artistry and aesthetic value of the works, while Western literature pays more attention to the analysis of the structure, language and techniques of the works.

4. Academic tradition: Ancient Chinese literature has a deep academic tradition, and the annotations and interpretations of classical literature by scholars through the ages have formed a wealth of literary materials; while Western literature pays more attention to the independent study of literary phenomena and texts.

5. Translation problem: The translation of ancient Chinese literary theories is more difficult, due to the background of the era, language habits and terminological ambiguities, making it difficult to accurately convey the ideas of literary theories. Western literary theories, on the other hand, are relatively easy to understand and disseminate in this respect.

In short, there are obvious differences between ancient Chinese literary theories and Western literary theories in many aspects. Understanding these differences helps us to better understand and appreciate the richness and diversity of Chinese and Western literature.