Study Of Liu Kezhuang's Epitaphs

Liu Kezhuang is a eminent person in the literary arena of the late Song Dynasty.He is expert in poetry,ci and essay.And he is respected as the leader of Jianghu Poetry School becaues of he has a large circlr of friends.He dies an 83 years old,and lives in Emperor Xiaozong,Guangzong,Ningzong,Lizong,Duzong.He is appointed as high official in Emperor Lizong,besides,he has a intimate relationship with politicians such as Zheng Qingzhi,Jia Shidao.Whether in the literary world,or in the political arena,Liu Kezhuang is an important historical figure in late Song dynasty.Hou cun xian sheng da quan ji includes 170 epitaphs,number second in the whole Song Dynasty,and first in the Southern Song Dynasty.These epitaphs' have a very wide range of objects,included both right officials and common people.So,the epitaphs of Liu Kezhuang have value and signficance of study,not only in reflecting the historical situction of the late Song Dynasty,but also the artistic achivement of Liu Kezhuang.This thesis is divided into three parts:Chapter ? mainly analyses the historical writing,image building and life at home of the scholar-bureaucrats in epitaphs of Liu Kezhuang.This chapter divides the scholar-bureaucrats into two portrayals by their activity space----court and native village.When they are officials in court or country,Liu Kezhuang tries to portray a cleanhanded and conpetent images,especially payes attention to the practical local achievement of writing.When they go back home,their life pursuit turn to values establishment form making contributions,particulary take care of moral cultivation and ethies of Confuciaism.They are obedient to parents and amicable to friends.But in their nuclear family,they have shown a certain dlegree of "absent",whether in partenting or supporting.In contrast,the large numbei of women in the family paly a role of"pillor",asseming the most majority of family responsbilities.The epitaphs also record the life at home of the scholar-bureaucrats of the late Song Dynasty.They can be divided into two kinds.The one is industrious scholar,which usually are absorbed in researching,writing or teaching after their failure of the imperial examinations.The other one is dissolute personage,they look forward to the celebrities'life in the Wei-jin Dynasties,and they often do leisure activities such as building,drinking,singing,traveling when they are relegated or retired.Certainly,this two kinds can't be separated absolutely.Chapter ? mainly study the writing skills of epitaphs when the writing obejects have close relation with politics.Liu Kezhuang frequently adopts many writing tatics for avoiding political risk,expressing political views,defending comrades,protecting himself and so on.Besides the influence of politics,writing epitaph is also restricted bu the biographoes of the writing obejects.Under the principle of true record mainly,Liu Kezhuang adopts "bent writing" in order to maintain the image of writing obejects.Some people are so common that there haven't many events for writing.Under these circumstances,Liu Kezhuang often mainly record the pity of writing obejects such as failure for the imperial examinations,being petty officials always.Chapter ? mainly compare epitaphs of Liu Kezhuang and Ye Shi.The epitaphs of Ye Shi lay emphasis on narrating the local performance of scholar-bureaucrats.Liu Kezhuang emphasizes the ability of dealing with actual government affairs,because he is influenced by ShiGong theory of Ye Shi.Although Ye Shi has influenced him much,there are still mang difference in their epitaphs.In the attitude of writing epitaphs,Ye Shi is positive,and he rarely refuse to do.By comparison,Liu Kezhuang is negative,he is compeled by the askers usxually.In the write position,Ye Shi tends to introduce lesrning and theory;Liu Kezhuang mainly narrates officials experience and political dispute.In the female epitaphs,Ye Shi emphasize the different and distinctive characteristic.But Liu Kezhuang mainly praises the traditional morality.The epitaphs of Ye Shi are evaluated highly in the Southern Song Dynastly,and there are some research articles later.But the epitaphs of Liu Kezhuang have little attention.