On HOU Fang-yu’s Prose: An Elegy of Dynastic Change Mixed with Restoration and Innovation

HOU Fang-yu’s prose was influenced by the historical prose of Han Dynasty, essays of Tang and Song Dynasties, legends of Tang Dynasty and novels of Song Dynasty, dramas of Yuan and Ming Dynasties as well as novels of Ming Dynasty. He absorbed the advantages from the novel creation and employed novel language, which makes his subjects more extensive, narrative art more unique, and writing style more striking. In addition, he mixed his life, nostalgia of his country and his deep sorrow for his motherland perished. This makes his works more moving.