A Study On The Image Of Foxin Chinese Classical Novel

Fox spirit is a traditional theme of novel. This thesis discusses the essence and the development of image of fox based on the large number of image of fox from tales ranging from Qin dynasty to Ming and Qing Dynasties. The thesis lays special stress on the images of fox in Pu-Songling's: Strange Tales from a Lonely Studio and analyzes the differences and connections between the fox images in Pu's novel and the images of fox in other stories of this period, aiming at probe into the cultural connotation of the image of fox and its process of development.The author holds that the image of fox is changing with the change of human's perception to nature and the change of man's attitude toward woman.The image of fox developed form a totem to an evil spirit since the beginning of paternal society. Woman was degraded to raise the social statue of man. When fox is regarded evil spirit, it symbolizes beautiful and seductive woman. This image carries the "love-and-awe" complex of Chinese men.Fox spirit is usually very charming, which implies the natural admiration of man to woman .On the other hand, fox spirit also does harm to people which implies that the rational self-alarm and self-discipline of man. Man's contradictionary attitude to woman is revealed apparently by image of fox in literary works. After Han Dynasty, influenced by Confucius, man's attitude toward woman is always wandering between awe and love, which was represented in the charming or bewitching and dangerous woman guised by fox spirit.The fox spirits in Pu-Sonling's novel are less seductive than these in traditional stories. They have all the merit of ideal women- beauty, intelligence, kindness, etc. His stories also consist of all the secular desire of ordinary people-beautiful wife and concubines. High position and great wealth amorous encounter prosperous descendants"Strange Tales from a lonely Studio" is not only Pu- Sonlling's inner expectation but also the ideal world of all the unfortunates.In a broader sense, from six Dynasties to the stores of fox spirit in classical novels are primarily fables of feudal morality for man, the complex of "Love-and-awe"results from the fables. They together enriches the images of fox in classical stories: The other reason of the enrichment of fox image is associated with the development of literature itself .The ways of expression was getting more and more, which makes it possible for fox image to carry more connotations.The inheritance and development of the previous ways of expression in Pu's novel and stories in Ming and Qing Dynasties is the other reason of the enrichment of fox image.