The Research Of Mirror Images In Chinese Classical Literature

Mirror images, a traditional one in Chinese classical literatures, can be found in art works through the ages. Tracing back to Xian Qin times, the mirror was extended to be a symbol of honesty and cleanness, and was used to express the meaning of persuasion, punishment and introspection. From Qin and Han Dynasties to the Six Dynasties, people went further to extend the meaning of mirror image and therefore made it richer. The detailed information is as follows: First, the mirror performed the magical function and became a symbol that could subdue the evil spirits as well as hold the augury to foretell something; hence the literary quotations on monster-revealing mirror, mirror divination, and mirror judge. Second, the mirror was put the emotion to show us woman's lingering affection when they were sad and man's sing of their feelings when they confronted with the practical world. Third, the mirror and the culture of Buddhism kept in touch and then promoted each other. It particularly showed to connect the mirror with calmness and void on the standpoint of the philosophy. In Tang and Song Dynasties, the traditional image of the mirror was passed down, but in poems and cis the mirror was more emphasized on the emotion. Additionally, much works appeared in this times which used the mirror to represent such objects as the moon and the water. This contributed the mirror to a more vivid image. Till Yuan and ming Qing Dynasties, mirror images mainly lay in the novels.This article, from two points of self-examination and reflection, takes a battery of mirror images in Chinese classical literatures. On the hand of self-examination, it mainly makes an analysis on five aspects of beauty's looking into the mirror, people's sing of feelings facing the mirror, introspection facing the mirror, self-love facing the mirror and transfiguration mirror. On the other hand of reflection, it mainly makes a discussion according to three mirror's characters serving as the keepsake, the magic equipment and the symbol, on the basis of which it gives a relatively detailed explanation for the concrete images of the mirror. As a whole, what mirror images intended to express in classical literatures is to more emphasize reflection but not self-examination. Meanwhile, people's self-awareness is relatively dim due to the deep impact by Chinese traditional culture.