Diachronic Research On Characcter Ugly Women In Ancient Chinese Literature Works

In ancient Chinese literature works, there exists a good number of female characters lacking of good appearance and virtue, who are called “ugly women” by men of letters. As the supplement of female figures, the characters of “ugly women” are both a indispensable part for researching on female lives in ancient China and a important carrier of ancient Chinese aesthetics. This dissertation on the basis of that focuses on character of “ugly women” and illustrate ugly women figures and vicissitude of ancient Chinese people from the following four parts.The first part is introduction. First, it should distinguish the two concepts: “ugliness” and “ugly women”. Having discussed the concept of “ugliness”, it’s conducive to make clear of the unique part of ancient Chinese aesthetics, which is the root and development of “ugliness”. What’s more, it could lay ideological foundation on the paper. The ugly women in the paper not only refer to the women lacking of beauty, but also virtue. Second, it arranges research achievements of ugly women in every field. Third, it introduces purpose, significance and method of researching on the character of ugly women.The second part mainly sort out “ugly women” of past ancient Chinese literature works. It discusses from two aspects: appearance and virtue. According to the sequence from pre-Qin period to Ming and Qing dynasty, with the help of looking out electronic document like Sinology Dictionary, consulting documents excavated from Dunhuang for the complete collection of relevant literature works, it describes the features of “appearance” and “virtue” of ugly women image.The third part mainly analyzes the similarities and differences of ugly women image in appearance and virtue. Similarities in appearance can be concluded nine parts: head, eyebrow, eye, nose, mouth, teeth, hair, posture, skin. The differences lie in the description of ugly women in appearance for the changes of figure. The common similarities is that people regard the jealous women and whore women as ugly women. In Qing dynasty, people saw women lacking of beauty but with virtue as ugly women. People thought the jealous women as ugly women in Wei and Jing dynasties. In addition, the ugly women in Tang dynasty refers to those who disobey the Buddha and rituals. The women who were disloyal and lewd were seen as ugly women in Song and Yuan Dynasties.The fourth Part mainly studies deep reasons of aesthetic changes in ugly women figures. The similarities of ugly women figure in appearance and virtue is that: first, men-dominated aesthetic value decide that beautiful women should be gentle and respectful, or it be the ugly women. Second, some Chinese philosophic thought, such as “ethics politics” of Confucianism, “Seeing evils as the ugly” and “Destiny View” of Taoism, “Male as Yang, female as Yin ”of Yingyang philosophy, are the deep reason for the definition of ugly women. The differences of ugly women figures in appearance are caused by different needs of females. In the Pre-Qin period, women were required as labor, therefore, the strong females were be seen as beauty, and the lean ones as the ugly. After Pre-Qin period, females were required for male’s reproduction and indulgence. In order to meet men’s sexual desires, there is a tendency for females to pursue delicate figure. Hence, fat females were thought of as the ugly. The difference social background in Tang and Song dynasties resulted in figure changes of ugly women. In great Tang dynasty, females with full and round figure were seen as beauties. In the Song dynasty, owing to poorness and backwardness, females were in pursue of delicate figures. Different literary styles have different aesthetic experience. For example, In the narrative style literary, such as drama and novel, the description of ugly appearance is more detailed and comprehensive. However, the description about the ugly appearance in poetry and prose is relatively simple. The difference of jealous woman in virtue of ugly women image is influenced by social morality. In ancient times, for status of women were relatively high, there was no jealous climate. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, feudal women virtues were formed, the number of jealous women was rare; Then, during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, with open social atmosphere and prevailed metaphysic, jealous woman appeared; In Tang Dynasty, influenced by and compatible with Hu Climate, the social status of women became higher, jealous woman was formed. In light of disloyal ugly women, restraint of Confucian ethics on women affected the aesthetic changes. During Song and Yuan Dynasties, the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the binding of feudal ethics and rites for women was gradually strengthened, more attention also was paid to the concept of women’s chastity, whore in literary works appeared in large numbers. In addition, the typical image of Dunhuang ugly women appeared, which was influenced by the concept of karma of buddhism.In brief, this dissertation, through analysis of ugly women in ancient Chinese literary works, discussion of different and similar aesthetic attitude in different dynasties as well as reasons, explore sorrow and joy under daily lives, know about profound cultural concept of ancient people, and provide certain historical reference to construct harmonious and healthy aesthetic value in the new era.