Abstract

This study aims to enlighten the background of the terms of writing or rhetoric theory through the introducing process of western rhetoric thought. The modern rhetoric was reduced to technical state which lost contents and simply operate well irrespective of its inner value because of specialization of knowledge in the late 19th century. The modern rhetoric explored the polished way of speaking and writing, and the nomality of language was given in trust to grammar. And rhetoric shook hands with the literary discourse which was centered on the lingual technique. In this time, the theory of Alexander Bain brought about the knowledge of kinds of composition-exposition, persuasion, poetry- and empasized the independence of literature. So it made the actual boundary of modern rhetoric. The Sinbizigaku(新美辭學) of Simamura Hougetsu was the translator of western rhetoric concept into eastern Asia. It also make good in the theoretical field of writing in these days. The talent of figuration which was essential to rhetoric made some items of writing theory. They are metaphor and rhetoric technique. It was in the first time that people devide writing into contents and form, and explain the figure of contents by the connection and transformation of idea. Western rhetoric and its east-Asian import are not fully accepted in the educational process. The theory of style and the concrete items of rhetoric must be reconstructed into the level education contents as well as the theory of kinds of composition.