Remarks on Parallel Prose

"Siliu Hua" is Wang Zhi's famous Song dynasty work on siliu (parallel prose) and holds pioneering significance in the history of Chinese parallel prose and of prose composition. In the form of random notes, the book evaluates fine siliu compositions by Song writers and touches on anecdotes about Tang figures. It preserves many otherwise lost fragments of parallel prose and literary anecdotes, and provides first-hand material for later generations to understand the writing norms and aesthetic tastes of Song dynasty practical prose. In discussing parallelism, allusion, transformation and condensation, the book starts from specific sentences rather than empty metaphysical talk; reading it reveals the craftsmanship of Song writers in choosing words and forming sentences, and offers a glimpse of the writing ecology of official documents, memorials, letters and other genres of the time. This edition preserves the original appearance of the book and is suitable as an introductory step for studying classical parallel prose. It can be read alongside the "Lici" chapter of "Wenxin Diaolong" and Song dynasty collected works, so that one sees both critical judgment and the hardships of creation. For readers who want to understand traditional Chinese prose composition rather than remain only with poetry, this is a compact note-form work rich in content.