Ouyang Xiu's Literary World And Life Contexts

There are numerous researches on Ouyang Xiu; however, regardless of appraisal standard and description framework, there is still room for further review. In the excavation and unfolding of Ouyang Xiu as the famous politician, philosopher, historian, prose writer, initiator of Song Poetry etc., these images of him had been strengthened while the other part of him had been ignored, concealed, or even neglected. This include his passion and emotion as a "person", his concern of the reality circumstances as a bureaucrat, and his ponder over the dilemma of life as a sensitive scholar.In fact, as an integrated literature self, both the social and inner part of Ouyang Xiu has portrait significant achievement. If the researchers remain on the traditional societal achievement of Ouyang Xiu, it will impose constraint on understanding the richness profile and academics research of Ouyang Xiu. This thesis intends to enhance the study of Ouyang Xiu private self in order to fully comprehend his literary world and his state of life. From here, the thesis aims to examine the literature interest, the philosophy as well as the pursing of life value of the Northern Song bureaucrats group.The first and second chapters of the thesis discuss Ouyang Xiu's life and social sojourn, with the focus on his inner emotion. In other words, these two chapters will bypass the discussion on biography or social relationship, but focus on his physical sickness, psychological sorrow, solitary temperament as well as the fluctuations in his relationships. All of these not only influenced his philosophy of life but also strongly reflected in most of his writings.Chapter Three, Four and Five will discuss on the spatial writings of Ouyang Xiu. There is actually a gap between the geographical "space" shown in the biography and Chinese literary history, compared with the "space" enshrined in his literary work. In other words, these spaces are not only the important geographical places where Ouyang Xiu had once lived, but also the space metaphors that he had created in his literature. Luoyang is a remembrance site, reminded him of his youth, his past away friends and his long lost ideal. Yiling and Chuchou is the metaphor of his life philosophy, conveyed his reflection of suffering and misery. Yingzhou is a discourse that Ouyang Xiu has uttered rather than a linguistic statement. The contradiction of the real and metaphor "Yingzhou" not only an interesting paradox, but also shown the main misunderstanding that was made in the discussion of Ou's complex in "Yingzhou". Generally, "Yingzhou" was seen as a metaphor of Ou's longing for the place "Yingzhou", his intention to live in seclusion, to live leisurely and his retirement into the "Yingzhou" country. But the truth is, Ouyang Xiu actually expressed his dilemma circumstances, his fear of trouble and misfortune, his never forsaken ideal of serving his country and finally his forced retirement due to sickness and unfavorable reality.Chapter Six and Seven will focus on the discussion of "Time". In either the writings of private historical compose, or his reflection of immortality, the main concern is actually "time", from the casting of history in the long stretch of time, to the flooding of human imprinting by the time. As a result, the effort of marking history as well as making immortality possible has become the ultimate concern in his writings.Chapter Eight and Nine aimed to discuss the liuyi manner and the literati character of Ouyang Xiu. Chapter Eight will emphasis on the present of the liuyi manner. This particular manner not only reflected the unity of both the thought and sentiment, but also reflected the ability to face difficulty, the capacity to be broad minded and self-amuse even in terrible situation, the surpass of fame and the skill to work steadily in order to bring benefit to the state.Chapter Nine "From Unruly to Sensible:the Transformations of Literati's Character" in the other hand intended to start the discussion with Ouyang Xiu's amorous songs. From here, the discussion will continue on the unruly character of Ouyang Xiu during his youth, and the transformation of his character from unruly to sensible in his older days. More importantly, this change of songs writing not only reflects his change in temperament, but also his adaptation in poetry and prose as well. It also manifests the transformations of Ouyang Xiu literati's character and the literary history as a whole.The Conclusion Chapter of the thesis aims to make a conclusion on the state of life in Ouyang Xiu's literary world, his affect on the bureaucrat groups of Northern Song as a paragon, and last but not least, the discussion of Ouyang Xiu as a "whole person".