Thoreau’s View On Chinese Culture

This thesis probes into Thoreau’s view on Chinese culture,a renowned American transcendentalist writer in the nineteenth century.In his masterpiece Walden,Thoreau quoted many excerpts from Chinese classic works,which was rare among nineteenth century American writers.It is Thoreau’s deeper esteem for Chinese culture than his contemporary writers that triggered the author’s pondering over Thoreau’s view on Chinese culture.The body of this thesis consists of three chapters.The first chapter discusses the Chinese culture origin of Thoreau,including the analysis of Chinese culture elements in his works,and the Chinese culture thoughts behind his criticism on Western industrialization.The second chapter discusses the Chinese culture theme in his works,intending for a genuine and complete presentation of Thoreau’s view on Chinese culture.By studying Thoreau’s works and other literature,the author found that Thoreau’s Chinese culture is based on Confucianism,which is due to the fact that most of Thoreau’s understanding of Chinese culture came from the Four Books.Out of the influence of transcendentalism on him,Thoreau’s works also take a touch of Taoism.The third chapter of the thesis is Thoreau’s misinterpretations of Chinese culture.There are ten quotations in Walden from the Four Books.Through analyzing the contexts of these quotations and Thoreau’s understanding of these quotations,the author discusses what misinterpretations Thoreau made in terms of Chinese culture(especially Confucianism),and the causes of these misinterpretations.Another question is,behind those misinterpretations,did Thoreau have any new interpretation of Chinese culture? After detailed studies,the author has given his own answer.Under the prerequisite of a discussion of Thoreau’s View on Chinese culture,the author paid much attention to the modern sense and realistic sense of this culture view.A research into this culture view is not only about the history of culture and literature,but about our modern society.This is where the significance of this thesis lies.