On Xiao Yi 's Ideal Personality

Jinlouzi is a philosophical work written by Xiao Yi, Emperor Yuan of the Liang Dynasty. For more than one thousand years since its completion, it didn’t enjoy much attention or any high evaluation. As a result or not, it became incomplete during circulation and reproduction. However, owing to the fact that many of its contemporary books were lost, Jinlouzi, even incomplete, is now considered as a representative philosophical work. During the last several decades, a lot of researches have been made on the book. This dissertation also aims to do research on Jinlouzi, particularly on Houfei, Zhongzhi and Jiezi, to reveal Xiao Yi’s thoughts on the empress and imperial concubines, funeral system, and also family education.The main methodology of this dissertation is historical study and textual criticism. The analysis is based on the close reading of the literary and historical documents, especially those materials related to Xiao Yi. Bibliographic method will also be applied in the dissertation. For example, to situate Jinlouzi in the context of contemporary philosophical miscellanies and encyclopedias and analyze their culture background, bibliographical method is utilized to describe the changes in bibliography categories in this period. All of these will lead to the reconstruction of Xiao Yi’s ideal personality.