On Jin Shengtan's Theory of Subjectivity in Literary Appreciation

Jin Shengtan's theory of literary appreciation has a strong spirit of subjectivity.Based on his predecessors' theory of self-acquisition,he put forth the theory of self-creation.This theory,through a unique elucidation of how to interpret the ancients and how to be interpreted by the posterity,advocates the subjectivity in both literary appreciations by oneself and those by later generations.Such a theory of subjectivity not only made a significant contribution to China's ancient critical theories,but also demonstrates remarkable national characteristics,when compared with such reader response criticisms as the reception aesthetics in the Western societies.