The structural analysis of Li Yu’s twelve towers

Li Y u, a playwright in the early Qing Dynasty, proposed the signific ant “structural theory” for the development of Chinese drama. This paper begins by discussing the concept of structural organization in his vernacular novel Twelve Towers , exploring how Li Y u, prior to putting forth the “structure comes first” theory, used the construction of “towers” as a narrative framework in the novel, to establish the spatial and thematic significance for the characters and activities within the story. Applying literature analysis of Twelve Towers as the research method, and supplement ing it with Li Y u’s structural theory from Random Thoughts and Essays and his expertise in incorporating garden art, the paper delves into the conceptualization and construction process of the “tower” in Li Y u's novels. Li Y u emphasized the novelty of buil ding a narrative like constructing a house, diverging from conventional themes of talent and honour. His narrative strategy not only captivates readers by leveraging the allure of idle literature but also subtly critiques societal norms, aligning with the prevailing taste for light hearted reading over solemn arguments. While scholarly discussions often centre on Li Yu's later work Random Thoughts and Essays , this paper uniquely starts with Twelve Floors to illuminate Li Y u's evolving compositional philosop hy and narrative techniques. Keywords : Li Yu , Twelve Tower , Random Thoughts and Essays s tructural a nalysis