How universal are essay writing courses and norms across cultures, e.g. China vs. the US. What’s the origin of the 5 paragraph school essay in the US, or is it the anglosphere?
See Essayism - Brian Dillon
Claude’s timeline:
Tang Dynasty (618-907)
- Qi-cheng-zhuan-he emerges in poetry (four-line compositions like Qijue)
- Possibly originated with Li Bai, though dating is speculative
Song Dynasty (960-1279)
- 1021-1086: Wang Anshi develops “Jingyi” examination essay form
- Qi-cheng-zhuan-he continues in literary use
- Jing yi essays introduced in civil examinations (precursor to eight-legged essay)
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
- Early Ming: Eight-legged essay format becomes standard for civil service exams
- 1464-1487: Term “ba gu wen” (eight-legged essay) formally appears
- 1480s: Eight-legged essay becomes required in civil service examinations
- Qi-cheng-zhuan-he evolves into the more rigid eight-legged structure
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
- Eight-legged essay dominates civil service examinations
- Widespread criticism emerges by 17th century for stifling creativity
- Qi-cheng-zhuan-he largely overshadowed by institutional ba gu wen
Modern Period (1905-present)
- 1905: Civil service examination system (and eight-legged essay) abolished
- Post-1911: Eight-legged essay abandoned with fall of Qing Dynasty
- 20th century: Qi-cheng-zhuan-he revived in popular education as “kaiduan-fazhan-gaochao-jieju” (beginning-development-climax-conclusion)
- Present: Qi-cheng-zhuan-he survives in various forms across East Asian narrative traditions