A Study Of Wang Fuzhi 's Study Of The Book Of Songs

Wang Fuzhi was a thinker in late Ming and early Qing dynasties. His study of the Book of Songs is based on others’ strong points but not cling to tradition. He made valuable contribution in research method, the view of poetics and the thought of aesthetics.Especially, his thought of the Book of Songs has an unique value in the history of the study of the Book of Songs even in intellectual history. His study revitalized the study of Book of Songs and promoted the study in Qing Dynasty.Currently, the academic members do a lot of research in Wang Fuzhi’s poetics and aesthetics. However, we also found that many places still inadequate. This paper tries to study Wang Fuzhi’s view of poetics, the thought of aesthetics, methodology and ideological connotation. What’s more, it is important to widen the research of Wang Fuzhi and to find the value on academic idea. Besides exordium, this paper consists of six chapters. Details are as follows:Chapter One is about the cultural background of Wang’s study of the Book of Songs. There are two critical influences on his study. Firstly, Wang made abundant achievements in this field. The study of Book of Songs was born in Pre-Qin period. It got excellent achievements through thousands of years. He learned widely from others’ strong points and formed his own style. Second is the harsh cultural atmosphere in early Qing Dynasty. Since the middle of Ming dynasty, under the affect of political orruption and moral decline, as well as Wang Yangming’s thoughts, academic circles was caught in superficial sentiment. Luckily, Wang Fuzhi, equipped with practical spirit of scholarship and study on classical works, changed the unhealthy social climate. Manchu Nobility who did mental and physical damage to Han Nationality implemented a serious policy in order to establish dominance. These actions aroused strong resistance which enforced this emotion to the loyalists of Ming Dynasty. All of these are the roots of Wang Fuzhi’s study why are full of criticalness and vitality. Chapter Two is about the purpose of Wang Fuzhi’s study. He aimed to "start a new phenomenon for Confucian". His main idea is to connect the classical research with the real life. The idea can meet the need that all learnings are to solve problems in life. Chapter Three sums up the basic approach of Wang’s research. Not only Wang Fuzhi can get resources from the research of previous generation, but also he has his independent thought. He put forward some useful methods on his research, such as comprehensive research, monographic study and explaining the Book of Songs with poetry. According to these methods, he divided his research into different classes in unity. These research methods not only make contributions to the research of Book of Songs, but also other subjects.Chapter Four is about to state Wang Fuzhi’s poetics opinion. This chapter discusses "the poetry is from the inside" and "the poetry is expressing the feelings". The former opinion sums up the trait theory of sacrificial songs in Greater Odes of the Kingdom and Odes of the Temple and the Alter. His opinion can uncover the magic of the sacrificial songs. The latter opinion reflects his attention on lyric poetry qualities. However, he emphasizes the poet should express emotions in moderation.Chapter Five is about to discuss Wang’s aesthetic thoughts in the study of the Book of Songs. It analyzes the thoughts of "combining poetry and music" and Confucius’s view of "Xing" poetry theory. Music is one of the basic traits in the Book of Songs. With the aesthetic thoughts that come from being music-centered, Wang Fuzhi shows the aesthetical traits of poetry that music and emotion should maintain consistency. Confucius’s view of "Xing" poetry theory is an old proposition. Based on the theory which Wang interprets in portrait way and landscape way, he declares that "Xing" poetry theory are four kinds human emotions. Obviously, this is a break from the traditional interpretation.Chapter Six discusses Wang Fuzhi’s vitality of the study of Book of Songs. This chapter mainly discusses his work——"Shi Guangzhuan", and the sense of crisis, emotions, spirit, complex, and vitality in it. What’s more, in this chapter, the writer shows the emotions of Wang Fuzhi when he studied in the Book of the Songs. This emotion is charming, moving, and distinctive in "Shi Guangzhuan" and also distinguished his from other researchers.