Studies On The Siming Scholars From The Late Song Dynasty To The Early Yuan Dynasty

The study of the Siming Scholar group was mainly focused on Shu Yuexiang, Dai Biaoyuan and Yuan Jue in the transitional period from the late Song Dynasty to the early Yuan Dynasty. Emperors and dynasties changed frequently at the period from the first year of Xian Chun at Emporor Duzong's reign of the Southern Song Dynasty (1264) to the fourth year of Tai Ding at Emperor Taiding's Reign of the Yuan Dynasty (1327). Researches on the literary history in those 62 years were neglected in the following aspects: the historical status, the changes of the scholar's fate, pattern of the literary world, literary activities and the changes of prose and poetry writing. Documents show that the study on the Siming Scholars is nearly vacant. The Siming Scholars held a very important position in the pattern of literary world. Studying this typical group of scholars can interpret the issues related to the tendency of poetry and prose in the transitional period from the late Song Dynasty to the early Yuan Dynasty.The introductory part of this dissertation is a general review on the group of Siming Scholars. The other parts present the background of the Imperial Academy. The author mainly discusses stylistic change of poetry and prose in the Yuan Dynasty, the formation of the poetic style and the leading effect of the Siming Scholars.This thesis consists of an introductory part, the body and the appendix.The introductory part analyzes the Siming Scholars from the aspects of duration, regional concepts and the school transmission. It points out that the change of poetic style was led and influenced by the Siming scholars at the late Song Dynasty and the early Yuan Dynasty. The author thinks that the study of this group will show the reason of the literary style changing in that period. It is the key of learning the poetic style of Yuan Dynasty. This part also presents the findings of the researchers of the earlier generations, and points out the research scheme and stances of this dissertation.The body is composed of five chapters:Chapter One discusses the mentality and the political inclination of the Siming Scholars. The author thinks that the Siming Scholars share the experience of first refusing and then accepting the Yuan Government. This chapter also explores the political inclination of the Siming Scholars, since it is related to the style of poetry. Chapter Two presents the literary theory of the Siming Scholars. This chapter analyzes the literary theories proposed by Shu Yuexiang, Dai Biaoyuan and Yuan Jue, etc. Their theories have consistency and continuity. With the influence of Yuan Jue, their theory was accepted gradually by the people. Through exploring their theoretical proposals, the chapter overviews the change of the poetic style from the late Song Dynasty to the early Yuan Dynasty.Chapter Three is concentrated on the study of the poems by Shu YueXiang and Dai Biaoyuan. The influence of poems written by Shu YueXiang and Dai Biaoyuan was less important than that of their theory. Their poems are a kind of manner in seeking the freedom and experience of life. The chapter also analyzes the essays of Dai Biaoyuan and points out his status and influence in history.Chapter Four discusses the functions of Imperial Academy and the activities of Scholars. This chapter explores Yuan Jue's activities in the later period. It is very significant, from the perspective of the Imperial Academy of Yuan Dynasty, to study the relation between the scholars at that time. Since Yuan Jue was a member of Imperial Academy for a long time, so the study of the functions of the Imperial Academy and the activities of the scholars is very important. This chapter attempts to explore the organization, the members and the functions of the Imperial Academy. It also studies the activities of the scholars, and even the relationship between these activities and the literature.Chapter Five is the study on Yuan Jue's poems and prose. Yuan Jue embodies the turn from Siming to Da Du with the means of his poems. The style of his poems is not only fresh, chaste but also ornate. His poetry is very significant in the forming of the Yuan People's style of poem. The author thinks that Yuan Jue's career in the Imperial Academy and his association with the famous scholars help him to obtain this achievement.The knowledge of the prose structure of the Yuan Dynasty helps to make clear the influence of the style of Southern Scholars. Since Yuan Jue held a post in the Imperial Academy for a long time, he inherited the style of Ouyang Xiu that was mild in tone but deriding. After that, the style proposed by Yuan Jue played an important role in the Imperial Academy. So the author thinks that Yuan Jue is a significant person in the history of the essay writing.This dissertation puts the chronology of the Siming scholars in the appendix, including their life stories and social intercourse within the group. But the gap of the study of the group of Southern Scholars and their academic activities, especially the detailed issues is still left to fill.