Studies Of LinYutang’s Humor Theory

In the last century, Lin Yutang was known as the "master of humor" by advocatinghumor, of which he was proud. And he didn’t live up to the title because he spent morethan half of his life time in implementing humor. Lin Yutang’ humor theory was based onhis western education background and love for Chinese native culture. Therefore, histheory could be viewed as the combination between western and Chinese factors.He realized that humor was not only a kind of tolerant view of life, but also the wayto speak truth. In order to liberate personality, he further put forward soul and leisure asthe extension of humor theory. He advocated that humor was not to escape from thereality or to laugh, but to disguisedly condemn the hypocrisy, numbing and artificialculture in more than two thousand years of Chinese history. Adopting humor to changethe wilt and narrow Chinese culture lied in establishing the perfect personality becausehe knew the accordance between humor spirit and the spirit needed for the times. At thesame time, he lived abroad for a long time, in which the material life was rich, but peoplethere forgot happiness and the enjoyment of spirit. Lin Yutang saw the help from realhumorous spirit and human nature’s alienation.The thesis focuses on the formation and developing possibility of Lin Yutang’shumor theory. The basis of the theory is demonstrated and its influences on history andreality are analyzed. Besides, the objective position of Lin Yutang in humor theory’shistory is disccused in the thesis.