Study On Li Yuanyang

Li Yuanyang was a famous literati and ideologist in the middle and later periods of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Yunnan and was called as "Great Confucianist" in the middle Yunnan. His Confucianism was highly rewarded and praised by Luo Hongxian (1504-1564) and Wang Ji (1498-1583); his poems were rich in content, various and complicated in style which were highly praised and approved by Yang Shen (1488-1559). His works followed the model of "Eight Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties" and praised by the "Eight Gifted Scholars of Jiajin Period(1520-1560) of Ming Dynasty". Li left rich heritages to the later generation, but his Confucianism and literary achievements haven’t been attached importance by the academic circle. This thesis dwells on Li’s life, socializing, political, literary and poetic thoughts and artistic features, supposing to have a new understanding and evaluation to Li Yuanyang himself, his poems and literature.There are five chapters in this thesis. The first chapter mainly dwells on Li’s life and socializing. The second chapter analyzes the important thoughts and its causes all through his life. The third chapter analyzes Li Yuanyang’s literary thoughts. The fourth chapter discusses his poem thoughts. The fifth chapter analyzes various poems and makes a summary of his poems’ artistic features. In appendix, the author analyzes Li’s prose characteristics.In brief, this thesis tries to make a comprehensive research to Li Yuanyang and rediscovers Li Yuanyang’s thoughts and literary achievements.