On The Representation Of Confucius In Poetry During Tang And Song Dynasties

This dissertation mainly focuses on the representation of Confucius in poetry during Tang and Song dynasties.In the introduction,we describe the altering characteristic of Confucius in state ideology from Han to Song dynasty.ln the long period,Confucius is becoming more and more important,which is correspondent with the severity of the autocratic rule.In Tang or Song dynasty,the worship is connected tightly with the rise and fall of the regime.That is spiraling.Confucius rises up to peak in Song dynasty,who has great influence on thought and culture of the period.In the first chapter, the life history of Confucius in Tang and Song poetry is studied.The representation of Confucius is selective,which is mainly concerning the mishaps and sufferings in his daily life.The allusions,as a kind of rhetoric,is dotted in the poems.There are too much of them,which make us feel tasteless and tired.There is a difference between the poetry of Tang and Song dynasty.The reason is that,in Tang dynasty, Confucianism,Buddhism and Taoism are respected almost equally;but in Song dynasty, the trend is different,Confucianism is powerful and vigorous The intelligentsia of the period have subject consciousness, who are eager to follow the Master to benefit the people.In the second chapter, the academic life of Confucius,is concerned, that is, the relations of Confucius and Six Classics in poetry.The poets in Tang dynasty are utilitarians,on the contrary, the rivals in Song dynasty,have more interest in pure knowledge exploring. The main difference is the latter,who put emphasis on the relationship between Confucius and Six Classics, believing that Confucius is the root of Six Classics, who ensures the sanctity and legitimacy of Six Classics. That is just like the relationship between God and the Bible in western culture.In the third chapter, the relation between Confucius and Daoism or Buddhism is investigated. Daoists or Buddhists consciously misread Confucius.The former confirm Confucius is a disciple of Laozi, the latter say Confucius is a minor bodhisattva.Both of them use this strategy,for the benefit of respective religious sect.these statements have much effect on the poets of Tang and Song dynasties. Confucius,in some extent, becomes the exclusive idol of the ruling class and Confucianists in Song dynasty.In the fourth chapter, the relationship between the great poet,Du Fu,and Confucius is inspected in Du's poetry The poet has different performances and attitudes towards Confucius in his life, and using the corresponding strategies. Du's disillusion to Confucius is a key events in his life. This disillusionment is the inevitable result of the sick society. As a poet, Du Fu successfully describes the touching journey of a devoted confucianist soul.In the fifth chapter, the Confucius relics and portraits statues are examined. As the ascension of Confucius in the state ideology,the people accordingly show more respect and worship, Confucius relics are increasing in number. Confucius statues, pictures are different from the poetry concerning Confucius.The statues and pictures are more closely connected to the idolatry and religion. The characteristics of representation of Confucius in Tang and Song poetry are diversity, unity and liberty.