A Study on Yang Shen's Reverence for the Style of Rhythmical Parallel Prose

Some of Yang Shen's reading notes were the earliest literary theory on rhythmical parallel prose in Ming Dynasty,which revealed his approval and theoretical considerations of this literary style. As a new research field,the exploration of Yang's thoughts about this style will be an indispensable part of the research on the history of Ming's rhythmical parallel prose, the literary schools of Six Dynasties and early Tang Dynasty,and Yang as an individual case. His reverence for the style of rhythmical parallel prose was closely related to his status as a member of the literati elite,who put an emphasis on its political and educational value,and its function of enhancing the comprehensive quality of civil officials.