The Four Masterpieces And Religion

The trends of religion in the Ming Dynasty has the characteristics of secular. And the influence of religion is becoming more and more widely. The four masterpieces represent the highest achievements of the Ming Dynasty Novels. The research on the relationship between the four masterpieces and religion, can help us to grasp the core of the novels, the literature and the demogenic sociology in the Ming Dynasty.The four masterworks of the Ming novels are not religious novels, but about Religion. The romance of the Three Kingdoms described Taiping Tao, Five Tao, Yu Ji, Zuo Ci and Pujing. The main character Zhuge Liang often wore a tunic with sword, like Taoist appearance. Journey to the west described a Buddhism history story. The title of each part was formd by Taoist words. All Men Are Brothers was started with a Taoist story, and ended with a Taoist story also. The Golden Lotus described a taoist figure named Wu Shenxian and a Buddhist figure named Pujing. Because of these, there are many scholars try to interpret these works with religious principles. My opinion is that the four masterpieces of popular literature, the audience for the public, they have no profound religious culture, also do not have much interest in religious principle, for this reason, the author of the novel is unlikely seriously to preach Buddhism doctrine in the works. In the four novels in religious writing, because so many are: one, the religious life is an important part of public life, the novel reflects the life, then the novel appeared in the religious figures, religious activities and religious activities is come very naturally, two, the author of the novel, using religion to structure the novel framework, the continuation of the plot of the novel; three, the author of the novel by some religious related characters, plot, to create a mysterious, more interesting, so as to cater to the aesthetic needs of the public.The way religion get into "the four masterpieces" is loved by most people. It is through the novel "transformation" of religion, the "transformation" of religion and the promotion of mass absorption of religious better, and even the formation of a new religion. Can say,"the four masterpieces" is the public's Carnival, the religious "decrowning", and the "new crowned god". From the perspective of interpretation to the four masterpieces and religion of the Ming Dynasty, unearthed in religious implication is not a novel, but the public culture, mass culture taste and fashion trend.This paper has five chapters.The first chapter is a general description about religion in Ming Dynasty and religious writing in chinese classical novels. It's divided into three sections, the first section from the definition of religion, religious types, various religious development to summarize the social and religious development in Ming dynasty. The second section provides an overview of the Qin and Han Dynasties, the Sui and Tang Dynasties, from the Song Dynasty to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the impact of religious factors, the development process in ancient novels. The third section to the dispute of Buddhism and Taoism as example, analysis, interpretation of the novels of the Ming Dynasty religious writing cultural significance and aesthetic significance, first described the overall outlook for religion in the novels of the Ming Dynasty, then analyzes the influence of Buddhist and Taoist novels of the Ming Dynasty in the battle of cultural value and the China narrative mode.The second chapter discusses the relationship between the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and religion, is divided into three sections. The first section summarizes "the romance of the Three Kingdoms" contains a complex religious values based on Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism: are reflected, and the folk belief implantation. The second section analyzes the deification process this figure Guan Yu:from the Three Kingdoms, the northern and Southern Dynasties generals identity, to the Tang Dynasty, Song Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty enjoyed Jiang Ziya, single letter "King", and then to the Ming, Qing emperor. Section third focuses on the analysis of the Taoist characters through image significance as well as Taoism.The third chapter discusses the relationship between the "journey to the west" and religion, is divided into three sections. The first section summarizes the development course of learn from the story:learn from the story is based on the facts of history as the blueprint, the earliest record of the event "the Tang Dynasty" and "the Da Ci'en Temple Tripitaka master biography", the hero of the story is the monk Xuan Zang, but with the cultural involvement Buddhist scriptures, the protagonist of the story gradually changed from a real person Xuan Zang to the fictional character Sun Wukong. The second section "struggle and the three religions on the journey to the west" in one. Three religions reflects the general trend of the development of religion in Ming Dynasty, the dispute of Buddhism and Taoism is the reflection of Shi Xing Dao and Buddhism historical facts, the author writes the dispute of Buddhism and Taoism is the use value of the interest conflict plot. The third section to learn the important figures of four and a Buddism godness Guanyin as an example, analyzes the religious factors have on them.The fourth chapter discusses the "All Men Are Brothers" relationship with religion, is divided into four sections. The first section outlines the "All Men Are Brothers" in Buddhism, Taoism and other religious expression. The second section to write "All Men Are Brothers" the religious attitude: all is mixed to Buddha, Dao, to "use". The third section to write " All Men Are Brothers " in the nine heaven has the "godmother" meaning, All day ceremony in the whole structure. The fourth section writes Lu Zhishen and although Gongsun Sheng is a religious figure, but not with the religious implication, effect of Lu Zhishen in the novel is mainly to add comedy, Gongsun Sheng appeared to influence by other mythical story, add a mystery novel.The fifth chapter discusses the relationship between the " The Golden Lotus " and religion. It's divided into four sections, about the relationship between the " The Golden Lotus " and Buddhism, Taoism, folk religion. In " The Golden Lotus ",Wu Shenxian and monk Pujing pushed the storyline, Buddhist retribution over it." The Golden Lotus " religious activities in description, is on the social reality of literature reflects the religious situation, provides the possibility for the study of ancient religion Chinese, but it is a secularized religious description, the author's understanding is simple and superficial.