A Study On The Leisure Literature In Late Ming

This thesis focuses on the leisure literature of late Ming, and the purpose is to rethink the late Ming literature from a new perspective. The leisure literature emerging in late Ming is characterized with the leisure elements, and its status and influence on Chinese literature can not be ignored. It is known that novels and operas are usually regarded as the important literature forms with the inherent entertainment, and it would lead to confusion if this thesis talks too much about them. So this thesis tries to pay more attention to materials from local chronicles, notes, recording and poetry so that to explain Leisure characteristics of this literature more clearly. This study makes efforts to revert to the cultural system and living environment in order to experience their idea and this would be helpful to explore the universality and credibility of leisure literature in late Ming.From this unique perspective the thesis which explores the leisure elements of literature can offer more reference for the study on modern leisure literature. The display of the significance of the ancient literature can make it better understood and more acceptable in contemporary society. Also, it could prevent the modern leisure literature going to the extreme and flowing in the secular.This thesis which is based on social and historical circumstances of late Ming analyzes the leisure literature. The study focuses on the traditional characteristics and the modern features as well, for example, the alienation of leisure literature and the changes of traditional function. The study is concerned with the characteristics of writing style, the attitude and the background of time. The agreement of individual and social environment, the interaction of static and dynamic, harmony of utilitarian and unique can offer the law of development. Thus, this research involves various aspects, such as leisure and relating theory, ancient Chinese literati's leisure life, leisure writing and leisure reading, as well as the psychological phenomenon of leisure writing, social ideas and customs. The thesis does not talk too much about the groups and schools in order to make the research more convincing and universal significance more attractive.The thesis is composed of Introduction, body and epilogue. The body of the thesis is divided into ten chapters: Chapter I is about the retrospective of leisure literature from the perspective of etymology, chapter II does a research on the leisure literature on the various stages and the developing clines. Chapter III to chapter X discusses the freedom from two kinds of pressure, influencing factors and characteristics.Chapter III is about the freedom from the material pressure. In the sixteenth century, with the development of city economy, sexual pleasure and extravagance -seeking became a popular life style, scholars lay down their lofty self-esteem and begin to seek a variety of strategies for existence, especially concerned about the strategy by literature, not only satisfied the literature recreation needs of the society, but also relieved the writers and literature from a stress and created a physical environment for the leisure literature.Chapter IV deals with aspects of the cultural environment of stress relief. Political corruption in the late Ming results in a society of liberal scholars and relaxing public opinion, the prevalence of Yang-ming Mind theories,Taoism and Buddhism teaching in the late Ming led to the awakening of literati, the literati began to the pursue the inner happiness and freedom. The freedom and happiness in bad times was a kind of real leisure and encouraged writers to enjoy this leisure life, the worldly life. From the yoke of utilitarian creation, concentrating on their hobbies, fully demonstrated the freedom of nature, the literati were released from the cultural pressure.Chapter V is about the influence that the late Ming society leisure activities for leisure literature. City became the sophisticated leisure environment, regardless of the common people or the aristocracy, leisure pleasure was very rife. As an elite society of intellectuals, the literati has also become important participants of leisure culture, and adding fuel to the flames. Leisure and cultural diversification and the expansion of leisure space made the literati be keen on various social leisure activities, especially the viewing theater and sightseeing landscape. These are the influencing factors that should not be ignored during the generation of leisure literature.Chapter VI deals with aspects of the geographical environment impact on the leisure literature. South advantageous geographical location, rich human resources as well as the southern leisure and lively culture, became important resources of southern literary development. For the writers and works of leisure literature in the late Ming, JiangNan was the main producing area. The South and the North have a clear geographical difference at leisure literature creation.Chapter VII talks about the impact on leisure literature from the literature itself. With the literature conditions ripping, culture and education were quietly developed, especially in the late Ming. All kinds of article styles have developed, literature depended little on other factors, and utility gradually went into indifferent state. The writers not only engaged in leisure literature writing, but explored leisure activities consciously, there were lots of theory of leisure or the thesis, the guidance in theory enhance the awareness of creative writers. The emergence of the leisure literati became an important driving force and make leisure literature to reach maturity.Chapter VIII discusses the main leisure literature characteristics. Because they were subject to Yang-Ming mind theories and Lizhi's theory of Childlike Innocence, the pursuit of natural childishness allowed scholars to express the spirituality and freely unfolded the feeling. Innocent style of writing straightly convey the innocence, the true feeling of the writers. The language was lively and easy to read, but this no_hiding of the emotions created a literary expression malformation and then a large number of pornography novels came into being. The naked desire for the passion writing though means the liberation of personality in some sense are signs of an improvement, but in fact, the indulgence does not give people longtime happiness. Though the literati promoted sexual happiness, it is difficult for them to evade the moral issue. The moral concept will stand out to reconcile their leisure and morality. And then reflection and intellect appeared in the leisure literature.Chapter IX focuses on Artistic Features of leisure literature in late Ming. Late Ming leisure literature is obviously characterized with poetic beauty, beauty of the tranquility and beauty of wisdom. China is a land of poetry, the desalination of Confucian Orthodoxy makes the leisure literature more poetic. In late Ming, the literati understood the life and literature sublimate the poetic feeling of vulgar life and constructed a realm of poetry. Co-exist with this kind of poetry were the realm of tranquility, consistent with this state of mind, were the meditation of buddhist school, emptiness and peacefulness of Taoist and calm of the Confucian School. This beauty of poetry and tranquility coming from the author's intelligence and civilian intelligence implicitly appeared in the creation, the author's intelligence were fully expressed in the words of the literature, and this unique talent in the literature only belongs to the literati.Chapter X discusses the characteristics of leisure literature from the functional changes. The leisure literature in late Ming arising from well-developed commercial city meant that the leisure literature recreation showed the shift from the countryside leisure towards Metropolitan leisure. This shift brought about functional changes of the leisure literature. Society changes made the literati in late Ming change dramatically on the old values. the traditional role of the literati and literature were challenged in late Ming, writing enlightenment function began to weaken and leisure features highlighted; city commodity economy development made the literary become a kind of consumer. Commercial features of the city became more obvious, literature also highlighted the consumption function, the writers began to please the readers. This was the inevitable commercialization of city life, so that the enlightenment function of literature was replaced by the consumption function; leisure literature revealed that the literature was further and further away from the utilitarian. The functional change, as conceived here, was not cynical to escape but result of a more sensible creation and a health, balance return to the noble and harmonious literature.Late Ming literati's leisure tastes were reflected not only in literature but also in life and other artistic fields. They sublimate the relationship between life and art, making life more artistic and making art into the living. However, due to accommodate the living, they made literature from polished to kitsch.