On the Harmonious Literary Theory of Yan Zhi-tui

Yan Zhi-tui, a literary theorist of the Northern Qi Dynasty, attached importance to difference and unification so he set up the harmonious literary theory. He emphasized the literary function of moralization and gave attention to its effect of amusement. He regarded the content as the most important aspect and gave the second place to the form. He respected the aesthetic difference and diverse value standards in the north and the south, with the former one being entirely invented by him and having great significance in Chinese literary history.