"shi Yan" Cultural Connotation

This thesis is divided into four sechons.The first section gives a general overview of Xing Shi Yan and indiveds the significanceof the book's rediscovery in l980'; An appraisal of the writer and commentator; The book'ssubject matter and forms of publication; And its value in Chinese literature and history.The second section introduces the novel's background, considered from the two mainaspects of economic change and ideological change in Ming Dynasty.The focal point of the thesis lies in the 3rd section. The discussion centres on the book's cultural implications. Against a backdrop of societal change, the book expresses the twomissions of the intellectual: first, from humanitarian concern, to rebuild societal order; andsecond, from a humanifarian spirt, to criticize society in actuality. The writer gives "good"examples as models to his readers in order to rebuild his society's ethics; and then gives"bad" models, displaying the displeasure retribution of God, in order to rebuild society'sreligrous faith. Furthermore, his deep and comprehensive criticism extends from society, spolitics all the way down to public feelings and customs, including every aspect of the indi-vidual's existence.The last section of the thesis researches the comparison between Xing Shi Yan and SanYan Er Pai. Through this comparison a clear difference is evident in the concepts of emotionand ethics, and in the concept of business. Differences in the literary works are also evidentin their levels of artistic attainment.Hoverer the novel should be analyzed and appreciated from it's emergence against thebackdrop of Ming Dynasty society, in order to obtain a valid evaluation.