Six Arguments On Wang Daokun

Wang Daokun was one of the important leaders at the later stage of Post-Seven-Masters in Ming Dynasty, writing the collection of poetry named Book of Taihai (Collected Works of Taihai), the traditional play Dayatang Zaju, and the literary comment Preface to Shuihu by Tiandu Waichen. Comments on his poetry and traditional plays have been made from the Dynasty of Ming and Qing to the present age, but there is still something more wormy of discussion.Staring with his acceptance and inheritance of the philosophy of yin and yan, the present thesis analyzes the influence on Wang's literary outlook by the philosophy of yin andyan. Wang accordingly reformed the doctrine of "back to the ancients" and tended to reflect his thinking in the literary creation.The present thesis, by examining the social milieu of literary creation in Ming Dynasty, Wang's experiences in his life and the contents in Dayatang Zaju, argues that the theme in Wang's literary works was to mirror the reality and pay close attention to the fate of men of letters, but not to express their leisure and enjoyments. The literary form of his tradition plays and the style of his writing plays and poems, together with his concern for the fate of men of letters, pioneered a new type of play, and initiated the prevalence of Zaju to describe one's own thinking. As a result, Wang filled the important role of "originating a new form of play by oneself in the history of Chinese traditional plays.In Preface to Shuihu by Tiandu Waichen, Wang attacked the reality which was unfavorable for people of outstanding talent, and expressed his view on fiction.