The Study Of Xiao Yan

The emperor of Liang dynasty , Xiao Yan ,is famous for revering Buddha in the history of Chinese civilization. He immersed himself in Buddhism deeply. He also wrote a lot of notes and commentaries of Buddhist Scripture and a lot of papers about Buddhism. His Buddhist thought and practice have a profound impact on the system of the lay Buddhist and monks.Xiao Yan is also a writer. In Qi dynasty, in terms of subject matter or form of his poetry, it should be included in the scope of Yongming literature. He can be regarded as an important writer of Yongming literature. In Liang dynasty, he often made friends with a lot of writers,led the younger generation by hands, and often organized literary activities, played a direct role in the Liang literary world, promoted its prosperity. The value of Xiao Yan in this respect had yet to tap.As a emperor having many achievements in Chinese cultural history, Xiao Yan's life involves many aspects of Chinese culture. From a panoramic view ,shed light on many facets of Xiao Yan life, I can not control. Therefore, this paper can only be from the perspective of literature and Buddhism, investigated Xiao Yans achievements and his deeds.This paper is divided into seven chapters.The first chapter, "The ancestors lineage of Liang dynastys imperial family and XiaoYans early experiences" .This chapter inspected carefully the origin of Nanlanling Xiao clan .This chapter also investigated the authenticity of this history books written in biographical style such as Liangshu and Nanqishu records,pointed out the flaw of looking Xihan famous official Xiaohe and Xiaowangzhi as their ancestors. Xiaozheng is Dujiang initiate forfather of Nanlanling Xiao clan,this chapter think that the ancestors lineage piror to Xiaozheng is unreliable,but the ancestors lineage after Xiaozheng is basically reliable. Nanlanling Xiao clan had three branches,Huangjiu,Xiaoqi,Xiaoliang.This chapter also explained the relationship between the three branches. This chapter also revealed the relationship between Xiaoyans early experiences and character formation.Chapter II ,"Xiao Yan Literary Creation Evaluate" .This chapter assessmented emphasisly Xiao Yans poetry, especially,Yuefu poetry. This chapter thought that Xiao Yans literary creation in terms of quantity or quality have reached a higher level of contemporary writers. He can be regarded as an important writer of YongngMing literature. Xiao Yan left many Buddhist poems ,often depict scenes outside to express his religious experience, removing the religious concept, it had also a literary merit, we should provide it appropriate literary history status. We should not blame the ancients. This chapter discussed Xiao Yans literature , meanwhile, his versatility has been shown.Chapter III, " Xiao Yans literary activities and the impact on the Liang dynasty literary world," This chapter study the reason of Liang dynasty literature prosperity. I think Liang dynasty imperial familys advocation and setting a example is the internal element of vigorously promoting literary prosperity. After building Liang dynasty ,XiaoYan had a series of literary activities,this chapter also spent a lot of history investigation on it. Meanwhile,also examined the role and impact of it. XiaoYans leading the younger literary generation by hands and organizing literary collective activities had a direct role in promoting the Liang dynasty literature prosperity.Chapter IV "Xiao Yans literary concept and the formation of literature factions " This chapter gave a specific analysis about the differences between the writer's social outlook and the literary concept .According current academic article ,Xiao Yan will be assigned to the conservative school .This chapter refuted the grounds of current academic article ,reached the conclusion that Xiao Yan in the literary concept is not a purely conservative figure but a tolerant, broad figures .Therefore,the conservative school on behalf of the Peiziye, the compromise school on behalf of Xiao Tong,the fashionable school on behalf of Xiao Gang , can coexist in harmony. At last,Liang dynasty reached the so-called peak period of the Middle Ages literary faction.Chapter V "Abandoning Taoism and adoring Buddhism," This chapter mainly study the evolution of Xiao Yans religious belief. This chapter used a lot of the materials which can illustrate Xiao Yans Taoism belief in unearly period,and thus examine the background of the family. This chapter proved that in fact Nanlanling Xiao clan is a Taoism belief family, although its Taoism belief deeds is not significantly.,but at least there is a long tradition of adoring Taoism and thick atmosphere of adoring Taoism. This chapter also inspected the authenticity of Shedaoshifozhao. Meanwhile,deduced the time of abandoning Taoism and adoring Buddhism is not Tianjian 3 year, but Tianjian 18 year. At last,The chapter also analysed carefully the motive and reason of Abandoning Taoism and adoring Buddhism from the political domination, thinking, his health and many other aspects, tries to reveal the truth about this incident.Chapter VI "Reviewing the theory of adoring Buddhism leading to ruin" .Some commentators have suggested that Xiao Yan is the most positive emperor in adoring Buddhism in Chinese history, excessive adoring Buddhism is the reason of Liang dynasty coming to ruin. This chapter at first summed up the XiaoYans various behaves and performances in adoring Buddhism . Section II of the chapter reviewed the origin of the theory of adoring Buddhism leading to ruin,pointed out the reason of forming the theory. This chapter think that the theory is the performance of the fighting between Anti-Buddhist and Buddhist since Dongjin dynasty. Buddhist used Karma theory to explain the incident of XiaoYans ruining,in fact this is a counterattack to Anti-Buddhist. Section III of this chapter questioned the theory of adoring Buddhism leading to ruin, and from the governing philosophy , religious population, currency and many other perspectives,drew the conclusion that adoring Buddhism not necessarily lead to ruin. In fact, Xiao Yans stupid governing and improper system of personnel placement at his old age are the reason of leading to his ruin.Chapter VII , "Annals of XiaoYans poems and deeds " , This chapter combed XiaoYans all poems and articles,meanwhile,annalsed and inspected it, added and deleted some lost articles and wrong items. Annalsing and inspecting of XiaoYans all poems and articles, our predecessors did not do so. Althought Hudehuai Four Xiao Chronological Life has done little work,but it is very crude and there is numerous research errors. This chapter also absorbed and refuted these various achievements of our predecessors.Meanwhile,corrected a lot of errors of Hudehuai Four Xiao Chronological Life.