Li Ao Research

Li Ao, learning ancient prose from the eminent writer Han Yu, has been regarded as one of the most important members of Ancient Prose Movement in the mid-Tang Dynasty. With succinct wording and sophisticated leitmotiv, his writings were highly appraised at that time. His philosophy has also been accounted as an influential one in the history of Chinese philosophy. However, we did not carry out any in-depth study on Li Ao, especially on his articles. Therefore this dissertation is aimed at studying Li Ao from the following four perspectives: experiences, relation with friends, philosophy, articles, and views about writings.The chapter of his experiences mostly refers to Critical Biography of Li Ao by Bian Xiaoxuan and other scholars and Chronicle ofLi Ao's Life by He Zhihui which simply outlines the story of his life, corrects a few comments and supplies some data. His intercourse with his friends proves to be ignored by the academia. The prevailing information on his intercourse can only be found in Textual Criticism of Intercourse of Li ao by Hao Runhua, but characters involved in the article seems too limited, such as Han Yu, Meng Jiao and Liang Su. To extend studying range, the chapter has selected more characters: Zhang Jianfeng, Lu Can and Yang Wuling. These character's names often appear in Li Ao's articles and discusses. The chapter has studied the relationship between them, and corrected the comment that Li Ao didn't have a good relationship with Han Yu.The academia has been paying much attention to Li Ao' ideas, especially The Paper of Restoring Human Nature. Most of them are discussing the origin of his idea and his influence on the Neo-Confucian in Song Dynasty. The second chapter has probed into the text of The Paper of Restoring Human Nature, to discuss an issue ignored by many scholars, which is why his idea is established on the Confucian. Elucidation of Lun Yu, written by Han Yu and Li Ao, has explained the meaning of the sutra. It also has its position in the history of Chinese philosophy since Han Yu and Li Ao practiced the sutra through explaining its meaning in an unusual way. Some scholars believe that it was not written by Han Yu and Li Ao. By analyzing its text to complement the textual research of Zha Pingqiu, the chapter has proved that its authors should be Han Yu and Li Ao. Secondly, the chapter has discussed its breakthrough in exceeding Confucians and its value in the history of philosophy. Thirdly, the chapter has discussed the difference between Han Yu's explanation to Lun Yu and Li Ao's. Therefore, the above-mentioned analysis offers more evidences to prove that it was undoubtedly written by HanYu and Li Ao. Through their explanation, it is for sure that they dare to breach the previous explanation has opened another window for us to review the philosophy. However, we should also pay attention to the fact that their comprehension was based on their thorough mastery for the sutra. The main points of The Paper of Restoring Human Nature can also be found in the Elucidation of Lun Yu, and the comment that most points of The Paper Of Restoring Human Nature belonging to Confucian was based on the comprehensive mastery for the Confucian sutra is in accord with the points of view in Elucidation of Lun Yu.The study on Li Ao' article has always been the blind spot for the academia. Ancient people had either appraised his articles from the angle of an overall impression or briefly criticized his certain article, but never evaluated his articles comprehensively and deeply. Modern scholars usually discuss one type of his articles, Miscellanea (Zha Zhu). Therefore it is necessary to discuss his articles comprehensively and deeply. The third chapter has discussed the function of Li Ao in the group of Han Yu and the inter-influence among them, Which would help illustrate the practical and instructional significance to literary composition. To discuss the virtues and shortcomings of his articles and compare his articles with others, his articles has been broken down into the following four parts in terms of the content and style: FU, argumentum, character and literary articles.Li Ao' literary opinion has always been a focus of the academia. The fourth chapter deals with Li Ao's literary opinion. However, the chapter has reviewed his literary opinion on the basis of a comprehensive mastering of his philosophic idea and articles, and eventually agreed with the comment that although he had brought forward the point that the article should have new content and use new words, neither his literary composition nor his literary idea had gotten rid of the influence of the concept that article is to express DAO since he was a Confucian.