On Taoist Cultural Implications Of Jia Pingwa's Novels

Jia Pingwa is a writer deeply influenced by traditional Chinese culture.Because of Jia's special life background,his literary creations have been,to some extent,affected thereby.Novels of Jia written in different periods of time are imprinted with traditional Chinese culture.These works are found to be closely linked with Taoist ideas,particularly Taoist outlook on life,a part of traditional Chinese culture.For example,traces of Taoist culture can be observed in novels,such as Cigarette and Old Castle created in his early life period,Ruined City and Earth Gate created in the 1990 s,and Old Kiln and Lao Sheng created at the beginning of the new millennium.This paper explores the Taoist cultural implications of Jia Pingwa's novels.Especially on literary expression of Taoist outlook on life in Jia's novels.In order to reveal the cultural connotation and literary features of Jia Pingwa's novels.Apart from the introduction and conclusion part,this paper consists of four chapters.Chapter 1 is valuing life and death.Proceeds from the idea of rebirth and the characters' indifference to life and death demonstrated by Jia's novels to analyze how Jia's novels give full expression to the idea of valuing life and death.Chapter 2 is natural and simple life essence.Reveals Jia's tendency to write the human nature and criticize “slavery of humans by material pursuits”,and points out its similarity to the natural and plain Taoist outlook on life.Chapter 3 is naturally inaction of life.Primarily examines the indifference and fragility of the disadvantageous as well description of the female image in Jia's novels,thinking that these characters demonstrate the natural,inactive outlook on life,which holding themselves aloof from worldly success.Chapter 4 is pursuing beyond the realm of life.Discusses the dilemmas facing characters in Jia's novels,including material pursuits,fame,wealth,and hardship,and how the characters seek transcendence.The similarity between these characters' pursuit of spiritual transcendence and Taoists' pursuit of the realm of life is elaborated.The Taoist cultural implications of Jia's novels are not accidental.Born in Shanxi,a profound historical and cultural heritage and a history of the major town of Taoist culture,Jia has been deeply influenced by the profound culture,particularly the time-honored history of Taoist culture.His life background has deepened Jia's perception and experience of Taoist culture.As Jia grew up,he underwent all kinds of misfortunes and experienced pains of diseases.All this has contributed to richness of his life experience and his increasing interest in Taoist culture,which is mainly reflected as his identification with and admiration of the Taoist ideas.This paper attempts to expound on Jia's novels from the perspective of Taoist outlook on life.The spirit of Chinese culture in Jia's novels,particularly the Taoist cultural implications,is explored.On that basis,the ideological and cultural depth as well as the value and significance of Jia's novels is revealed.Culturally,Jia's demonstration of the traditional Taoist culture in his novels is critical.While carrying forward the Taoist culture,Jia also criticizes and denies the dregs therein.Seen from literary creation,the Taoist culture and ideology delivered by Jia's novels can enrich the cultural connotation of works.On the realistic level,many novels by Jia Pingwa represent his reflections on the current social status,which can provide favorable inspirations for cultivation of social morality and public pursuits.