Research On Citations Of Huai-nan-tzu

Huai-nan-tzu is a synthesis of miscellaneous schools of thoughts in Qin and Han Dynasty. Under the organization of Huai Nan Wang, its compilation was by done by his retainers. Its grand style, profound content and ornate diction have earned its fame. Its broad references and evidence extend from pre-Qin days to Qin dynasty, to Han Dynasty, which include mythologies, fables, history, masterpieces of different schools, proverbs and aphorism. In simply words, Huai-nan-tzu becomes miscellaneous as a result of its extensive references and evidence. Its miscellaneousness in turn has manifested its extensive content and comprehensive content, which establishes its historical significance among the classics of different schools. Literally speaking, it is its miscellaneousness in ideology, in content and in diction that has proved its unique literary achievement.Hence, one of the important tasks in researching Huai-nan-tzu now is to observe and analyze further the literariness of Huai-nan-tzu. Based upon the text itself and its wide reference, this thesis approaches Huai-nan-tzu from its citations and selects citations of literary tension and of multiple sources, like mythologies, fables, history, masterpieces of different schools, proverbs and aphorism. All these sources are included, combed and summarized for the feature of its citation in contrast with the classics of other schools. This research, hereby, goes further to its literary effect coming from those citations, and to its ideological nature; so as to pave way for research upon the literariness of Huai-nan-tzu. For reasons listed above, this thesis is divided into three sections.Section One is for combing the citations of Huai-nan-tzu. Firstly, this section concentrates upon defining and explaining the relevant concepts like "pure literature", "citation", and so on. Then, classification upon its citations is done. With the focus upon literary perspective and investigation upon its literariness, this thesis has selected mythologies, fables, history, masterpieces of different schools, proverbs and aphorism. Those sources are sorted out and verified in order to make a relative full mastery of and to clarify the literary significance of the citations in Huai-nan-tzu.Section Two analyzes and summarizes the way Huai-nan-tzu cites. As citation has always been a common method in literary creation, Section Two specifically explores and investigates the way Huai-nan-tzu cites in semantic, emotional and logic perspective. With its particular narration technique, this section also seeks a general induction chronically and diachronically upon literary citation, "legalizing" most of the citations in Huai-nan-tzu.Section Three explores and interprets the particular literary effect in citing Huai-nan-tzu. An encyclopedia in our times, Huai-nan-tzu is going through more and more interpretation from multiple perspectives. Its literariness has always been an indispensable theme for research. There are strong literary tensions in the mythology, fables, histories, etc. in Huai-nan-tzu; which exhibits strong senses of time and space, and makes Huai-nan-tzu a masterpiece. Besides, citation has brought Huai-nan-tzu with rich diction, profound connotation, miscellaneous forms, deep ideology, etc. Investigating citations in Huai-nan-tzu reinforces the status of Huai-nan-tzu in the literary history of China, and manifests correspondingly its literary value.