The artistic characteristics of Mencius’s prose are: full of momentum, sharp writing, full of inspiration, and the spirit of a politician and an eloquent; he often uses clever metaphors and fable-like stories to illustrate the truth, which is vivid and effective. Persuasiveness.
Among the pre-Qin scholars, the artistic achievements of the prose of "Zhuangzi" are the most outstanding. Lu Xun once said: "His prose is as vast as the oceans and its manners are all-encompassing. It is the work of the late Zhou scholars." , No one can be the first."
Zhuangzi's prose has a unique style among the prose of pre-Qin scholars.
1. It absorbs the spirit of mythological creation, adopts and fictionalizes a large number of fables, As a basis for argument; therefore, imagination and fantasy are the most romantic.
2. Another characteristic of the prose of "Zhuangzi" is the good use of metaphors. Originally, articles from the Warring States Period generally had this characteristic , and "Zhuangzi" can be used as a metaphor in almost any situation or thing, and can also accommodate metaphors. It not only has many metaphors, but also uses them flexibly, and it is also the most outstanding among the prose of pre-Qin scholars.
3. Another characteristic of Zhuangzi's prose is that the language is like flowing clouds and flowing water, wild and unrestrained, ups and downs, distinct rhythm, harmonious tone, and has the characteristics of poetic language. It has both the layout of fu and the rhythm of poetry.
4. "Zhuangzi" claims that its creative method is "to use 卮yan as the source of expansion, to use tautology as truth, and to use fables as broadness" ("The World"). Fables are words that are fictitiously placed on other people and other things.
5. "Zhuangzi" uses rich allegories and bizarre imaginations to form a magnificent artistic realm, with the artistic effect of prose poetry. However, "Zhuangzi" is a philosophical prose after all, and is different from other philosophers. Like argumentative essays, it is an argumentative essay. However, its reasoning is not based on logical reasoning, but shows a vivid and bizarre argumentation style.