The Completion of Canonization of Ci in Works of Literary History in Modern Times of China

The canonization of ci poetry as a literary genre has long been a core issue in its studies. Traditional efforts to elevate the status of ci poetry failed to overturn the traditional genre hierarchy with poetry at its apex. The true realization of this goal, however, was made possible by the fundamental restructuring of the value system of classical genres during the May Fourth literary revolution in 1919. In this process, a considerable number of literary history writings played a pivotal role. These works re-evaluated ci poetry ’s form, language, and content through lenses such as literary evolutionism, vernacular literature, and popular literature. Consequently, they affirmed ci poetry as a freer and more vibrant genre, emblematic of both poetic evolution and liberation. Ci poetry became one of the few classical prosodic genres that not only escaped the critique of the literary revolutionaries but also gained an elevated canonical status. In effect, this development achieved the long-sought goal of ci poetry canonization.