Study Of Cheng Gai's Shuzhou Ci-poems

Ci-poem in Song Dynasty is the literature of a generation. Although Cheng Gai is a distinctive poet in the early Southern Song Dynasty, few studies have been made on his ci-poems and himself. This thesis is to make a systematical study on Cheng Gai and his works Shuzhou ci-poems based on the research of his time, the regional characteristics and the general view of the poetry circles at that time.Firstly, the thesis analyzes the social environment of early Southern Song Dynasty, the style of the poetry circles and the regional characteristic of the culture in Sichuan. With the gradual recovery and development of economy after the Southern Song government crossed the Yangtze River, both the government and the people idled their time away in luxurious pleasures, such as scholars wrote or chose ci-poems for singing. The vogue of pleasure was no worse than that of Northern Song Dynasty when it was at its best. Graceful and restrained style was on par with uninhibited and generous style, works about the persons who devoted himself to the society existed side by side with the works about the life of the persons who lived as hermits. Graceful ci-poems were very popular while folk poems could also find their places. The thesis first traces back the historical sources of the culture of Sichuan, then analyzes the characteristics which including the prosperity of culture brought by the scholars who crossed the Yangtze River, the flourishing of the ci-poem in Sichuan in Song Dynasty, the influence of the popularity of folk songs in Sichuan, etc.Secondly, the thesis analyzes the subject matter of Shuzhou ci-poems. In this chapter, the author divides the subject matter into nostalgia, missing and complaint, love between men and women, emotion expressing when praising an object, hermit's life, etc. and studies the characteristics of the subject matter.Thirdly, by study Cheng Gai's poems, the author analyzes the artistic characteristics of Shuzhou ci-poems, which includes the artistic style, language skills and formalities.Fourthly, the thesis studies the status and influence of Shuzhou ci-poems. Begin with the achievements made by Shuzhou ci-poems, the thesis then explores the reason for obtaining the achievements. Having studying folk songs, folk poetry and learning from the former poets like Zhou Bangyan, Cheng Gai had made great achievements in art, which won him a place in the poetry circles and brought great influence on the poetry circles.Lastly, the thesis also makes a study of Cheng Gai's life and his family background, which can be used for reference when people talk about the poet. Also, the thesis analyzes his relationship with Su Shi ,his life ,his friendly contacts in his life and his family background.