Abstract
The prose genre zhuan 傳 (biography) originated in historical texts, and initially took the recording of historical fact as a baseline writing principle. However, the close tie between zhuan and history began to loosen during the Tang and Song dynasties, when fictional elements became one of the genres most important features. The emergence of this trend is exemplified by Su Shi's ”Biography of Fangshanzi,” a half-fictional biography widely regarded as one of the most famous and outstanding zhuan works ofthe time. Using modem narrative theories as an important analytic device, this paper aims to reinterpret Su's ”Biography of Fangshanzi” within the context of the classical Chinese writing tradition of historical prose. In opposition to previous research, I claim that the content of the biography is not totally based on truth. I try to identify its lyrical character and analyze the narrative strategies Su used in an effort to see how the essay, which roams across the borders of history and prose, as well as fact and fiction, could serve as a metaphor of the author's life. Through this discussion, I re-examine the tradition of Chinese narrative literature, and explain why it is necessary to include guwen (古文) within it. Moreover, I show how an expressive zhuan like the ”Biography of Fangshanzi” is interrelated with lyrical poetry. By elucidating this interrelationship, I hope to provide a basis for further investigation of the connection between the narrative and lyrical traditions in Chinese literature.