On Su Shi's Inheritance and Development of Liu Xie's Carving a Dragon at the Core of Literature

As early as before the days of Han Yu(A.D.768824),two different ideas of there lationship between Wen(writing) and Tao(philosophical and moral principles of a text) had come into being in ancient China, one of which held by Confucian School that values Tao more than Wen;the other held by Liu Xie,in whose masterpiece Carving a Dragon at the Core of Literature,it meant by Tao natural law other than only Confucian philosophical and moral principles and put more importance on the dynamic role of Wen and its specific aesthetics.Down to the Song Dynasty(A.D.960-1270),Su Shi inherited and developed the idea of Liu Xie.With his own literary practice he made a thoroughgoing and systematic exposition and exploration of the law of literature and art.This great contribution of Su Shi is undeniable.