Abstract Introduction: Theory of Fiction: A Chinese Perspective Internationalization of Chinese Fiction A Critique of Realism A Critique of History A Critique of the Poetry-Fiction Divide Objectives of Inquiry Scope of Inquiry Assumptions and Methodology 1. Chinese Notions of Fiction Chinese Xiaoshuo and Western "Fiction" From " Xiaoshuo " to Xiaoshuo The Continuity of Fictionality in Xiaoshuo The Intrinsic Nature of Xiaoshuo The Problem of Self-Conscious Fictionalization 2. The Nature of (Chinese) Fiction A Definition of Fiction Fictionality: the Conceptual Core of Xiaoshuo A Definition of Pure Fiction Intrinsic Reasons for the Rise of Fiction Historical and Narrative Inertia From Storytelling to Fictional Art 3. The Aesthetic Turn in Chinese Fiction The Initial Turn to Fictionality in Early Xiaoshuo The Turn to Realism and Inwardness The Turn to Multiplicity in the Full-length Novel The Drive toward Pure Fiction A Change in Model for Fiction Writing The Linguistic Turn to Fiction as Verbal Art 4. The Poetic Nature of Chinese Fiction The Lyric Unconscious of Chinese Fiction Poeticization of Prose Fiction The Rise of Poetic Fiction Intrinsic Poetic Qualities in Fiction A Definition of Poetic Fiction Lyrical Realism and Mythical Realism Aesthetic Suggestiveness: Hallmark of Fictional Art 5. The Art of the Jin Ping Mei : Poetics of Pure Fiction A Self-Conscious Turn to Pure Fiction A Novelistic Conception of Weaving Creative Impulse and Motivation for Fiction-Making The Invention of Characters and Plot A Disseminative Paradigm of Reading/Writing The Poetics of Fabrication A Novel of Multiple Dimensions 6. The Art of the Honloumeng : Poetic Fiction and Open Fiction The Ontology of Representation The Epistemology of Representation Creative Vision: Openness of Fiction Dreams and the Making of Poetic Fiction The Poetic Unconscious and Poetics of Openness A Writing Model of Open Fiction 7. Theory of Fiction: A Chinese System A Synthetic Overview Genesis: Lyrical and Psychological Rise Ontology: Being in Nonbeing or Real in Unreal Epistemology: Make-believe or Taking the Unreal as Real Creative Conception: Many-in-One Totality Model of Writing: Linguistic Dissemination A Definition of Open Fiction Modes of Representation: Kaleidoscopic Narration Theory of Reading: Open Hermeneutics Conclusion: Toward a Transcultural Theory of Fiction Conceptual Roots of Sameness and Difference Mimetic Dogma and Chinese Dissent Conceptual Basis for a Transcultural Fiction Theory Fiction as a Linguistic Representation of the One Notes Selected Bibliography Index.