On The Extensive, Mixed Characteristics Of You Yang Za Zu--Viewed From The Angle Of Cultural Anthropology

Cultural anthropology is a newly developing subject which takes its studying domain the cultures of human beings. The cultures of human beings include all material cultures, spiritua cultures and institutions which human beings have created by themselves, and the origins and development of these cultures. The cultures of human beings relate to sociology, folklore, religion, history, economics, art and law etc. This thesis studies from the angle of cultural anthropology the cultural aspects of the strange fiction You Yang Za Zu by Duan Cheng Shi, a fiction writer living in the late Tang dynasty.The thesis begins by clarifying the relationship between the strange characteristics and the extensive, mixed characteristics in the fiction, stating that the strange characteristics demonstrate the fiction 's literary value while the extensive, mixed characteristics its cultural value, the latter being the focus of this thesis. Then, three specific cultural aspects are selected from the wide cultural surroundings of the fiction and analyzed so as to mirrow its rich value in cultural anthropology. Among them, "Jiu shi"("line and Food")shows five characteristics of the diet culture in Tang dynasty, ie [.emphasizing the rare, drawing extensive materials. 2. fond of slices of carp,ignoring taboos. 3. the artistry of the diet culture. 4. thriving urban catering trade and foreign foods. 5. multi-culture in the names of foods. "Sing" ("tatto")describes the rich and distinctive culture of tattoo. The tattoo in Han nationality not only demonstrates individual estheticistn and emotions, but also implies Buddhism. The tattoo implies that Mi Zong (a branch of Buddhism)is current in the region of Han nationality in the Tang Dynasty. Except being a decoration or a symbol of maturation or national dignity, the tattoo on the face is also a means used by jealous wives to punish servants. Besides the thesis will emphasize the influence of the minority nationalities' culture on Han culture from some facts, for example, the appearance and prevalence of Han nationality' s tattoo is are latter than minority nationalities' . "Tian Zhi'records the famous Chinese legend'ffu Gang Cutting the Laurel*. The thesis compares similarities and dissimilarities between this legend and another one'GhangE Flying to the Moon'from three essential factors of myth while stressing the researching value of You Yan Za Zu on the respects of Chinese legend and nationallycultural exchanging history.The thesis points out following opinionsithe eternal medicine and the eternal laurel are both mythical explanation for the ancient topic of"the eternal". In the Tang Dynasty, the moon and the laurel all bear the cultural colour of Indian Buddhism, relating to the agricultural pastoral production and society. And ChangE and fu Gang both reflect the feminist consciousness, and ffu Gang is the male variation of ChangE in Tang Dynasty. Besides connecting with tiger idolatry, the toad and the moon rabbit mean the eternal life, the toad and the moon rabbit in the legend of Wu Gang Cutting the Laurel have meaning of Buddhist practice. In a word, though the two legends independently exist in the Chinese moon legend, they are similar in their deep structures and cultural connotations. Lastly the thesis concludes by pointing out that the application by cultural anthropology in you Yang Za Zu, ie direct observation, personal experience, interview, making friends and comparision, is one important reason that its extensive and mixed characteristics has taken shape Adopting developing and historical researching methods, the thesis explores the development of some cultural facts in You Yang Za Zu, trying to explain its extensive and mixed characteristic, The aim of the thesis is to be helpfulto the study of the cultural characteristic and values of You Yang Za Zu.