On Scholar Clubs In Huxiang Region In Qing Dynasty

Forming scholar clubs were common in Ming and Qing Dynasties. Various scholar clubs with distinct regional characteristics were bred and born in Huxiang region for its fertile soil. With a long history, deep and broad connotation, culture in this region nourished the local scholars. Large number of scholar clubs were the symbol of its prosperity. With great many mountains and green forests, wide expanse of mist-covered waters, Huxiang played a vital role in providing clubs members to organize literary event and works. There were celebrities at different levels appeared in the region, which constitute the members of the scholar clubs. After studying the scholars clubs by analyzing and textual research, the author finds out that there are more than two hundreds clubs in this region, which can be classified into the early, mid and late periods in Qing Dynasty. In the case study, the authors studies the club’s geographic characteristics, club members, their travels and social activities. By studying the scholars clubs, this research attempts to classify the literal characteristics, regular patterns, trace tradition, regional characteristics of the clubs, especially clubs at basic levels. Moreover, the author studies the connections between relevant factors, such as social culture, regional customs, family education, with the literal content of scholar clubs in this region. By comparing and analyzing the different characteristics of clubs, the authors tries to reveal the actual circumstance of forming scholar clubs and complement the area of the previous research where clubs were formed in Qing Dynasty.In the part of Introduction, research background, present study of scholar clubs, research framework and methodology are introduced briefly. Moreover, important conception like Huxiang, scholar clubs in Huxiang region are defined.The body consists of five chapters. In Chapter One, humanistic traditions and the influence of geographic surrounding in Huxiang region to scholar clubs’ literal event and creation are elaborated, geographic distribution of scholar clubs is enumerated, scholars’ literal event and creation’s transition and commemorative influence are analyzed, which is also a representation and record to the local custom. scholar clubs’ history before Qing Dynasty is also clarified.In Chapter Two, By concerning different factors, this period is divided into early, mid and late eras. Together with historical background, typical clubs are selected to vertical study as examples in order to sum up the periodical characteristics of these clubs,which base on the datas study of these clubs. The clubs which the important persons in the Hunan system group of the late Qing Dynasty formed were the focus of the study.In Chapter Three, in order to sort out the characteristics of clubs, different literal event process, club style, creation and transmission of clubs are compared. More concern is paid to reveal scholars’ profound soul. Deng Xianhe and Master Jingan are taken as examples to prove the significance of the scholar clubs and psychology condition of its members.In Chapter Four, clubs organized by scholars from different places,, of which the background, reasons and regional distribution of clubs organized are analyzed, is the the key subjects of this chapter. The cultural communicative and stimulus function of this clubs are analyzed as well. Tao Peng, the famous official under the ruling of Jiaqing, is a key example to study the club of this kind.In Chapter Five, the three dynamic processes of listening to the melody of instruments, painting and couplets calligraphy are analyzed together, so as to reveal the theme, the connection with regions, interaction among the three procedures. Eight Geezers in Old House in Bixiang Street and Sacrificial Ceremony in the Garden named Jie are two examples to be discussed.The last part of this dissertation summarizes general images, scale and significance of scholars in Huxiang region. Comparing with the other regions except Beijing, scholar clubs forming was not as popular as in some other southern provinces in China. The author analyzed the reasons for its unpopularity from aspects like local custom, culture psychology, individuality of scholars and so on.