A Study On The Wudangshan Local Chronicles In The Ming Dynasty

Mount. Wudang came to its summit in the Ming Dynasty when the compilation of Wudangshan local chronicles was fruitful, especially in practice and theory. From the aspect of philology this paper makes researches on the origin of Wudangshan local chronicles’ compilation in the Ming Dynasty and their literature features. On base of these researches, this paper attempts to make cultural interpretations of the materials in the Wudangshan local chronicles compiled in the Ming Dynasty which can illustrate Emperor Shizong of the Ming worshiped Daoism and provide the records of eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty.Chapter I makes a brief introduction of Wudangshan local chronicles complied in different dynasties. It examines the literature records for Mount. Wudang before the Yuan Dynasty, analyzes the origins of Wudangshan local chronicles’compilation from the Yuan Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty to the present in order to make a thorough research on the system of Wudangshan local chronicles and the features of chronicles culture, thus emphasizes Wudangshan local chronicles’ status and roles in the system of local chronicles.Chapter II explains the reason why the compilation of Wudangshan local chronicles prevailed in the Ming Dynasty. With the help of the primary rules and its particularity in compiling Wudangshan local chronicles, this chapter tries to find out the reasons which can be listed as follows:the elevation of Mount. Wudang’s political status and the consolidation of Mount. Wudang consciousness; the influence from the tradition of chronicle compilation and the inspiration from the support policies; the popularity of Xuantian Shangdi belief and the rise of tourism; the cultural need and political struggles.Chapter III introduces the main contents of Wudangshan local chronicles from the four aspects as Wudang geography, Wudang Daoism, Wudang political affairs, Wudang art and literature. This chapter makes analysis of the contents which keep such literature characteristics:rich with data, abundant with academic and cultural information. At the same time, this part provides examples from Wudangshan local chronicles in the Ming Dynasty that are of philological value. With plenty of examples, this part emphasizes the importance role Wudangshan local chronicles in the Ming Dynasty play in the academic research, showing that the academe has not paid enough attention to their literature values and needs to make further researches on it.Chapter IV lists the achievements and weak points The compilation of Wudangshan local chronicles was fruitful, especially in practice and theory. There are a large amount of Wudangshan local chronicles with good qualities which emphasize various points, employ new forms and styles. Furthermore, the Wudangshan local chronicles are refined in short intervals, they are compiled with regular continuation. Lots of people take part in the project and they make reforms in the compilation. As for the contribution to theory, Wudangshan local chronicles help researchers know more about chronicles, pay more attention to preface and examples, differentiate mount chronicles from county annals, initiate a narrative pattern with descriptions and illustrations. However Wudangshan local chronicles in the Ming Dynasty need to be improved from the aspects as classification of articles, descriptions of contents and presentation of facts, thus we should pay more attention when we read and adopt these examples.Chapter V makes supplement and correction of Wudangshan local chronicles in the Ming Dynasty. Some researchers leave plenty of rooms for improvement when they made researches on them. This part manages to refine Wudangshan local chronicles with the help of new reference books and literature.Chapter VI investigates the materials in Wudangshan local chronicles in the Ming Dynasty, some of which can illustrate Emperor Shizong of the Ming worshiped Daoism. Based on these materials, this part explains the reason for his worshipping. It analyzes Emperor Shizong of the Ming’s support policies for Wudang Daoism and management so as to explore the close relationship between Emperor Shizong of the Ming and Wudang Daoism. Consequently we can have a better understanding of Emperor Shizong of the Ming.Chapter VII is about the materials of eunuch from Wudangshan local chronicles. Based on these materials, this part makes researches on how the prefect-eunuch system began at Mount. Wudang and its development. It discusses the eunuch’s main activities at Mount. Wudang and the influence on the foundation of Wudang Daoism. Furthermore, it attempts to make a objective evaluation of Wudang eunuchs’ historical contribution, thus provides a new aspect for the research on the history of eunuch in the Ming Dynasty and the system of eunuch in China.Generally speaking, Wudangshan local chronicles are compiled from the Yuan Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty to the present, refined and suppled, resulting in a whole system and a unique culture. Wudangshan local chronicles in the Ming Dynasty play an important and special role in the system, transitive and innovative. They are the important carriers of Wudang culture, and also necessary parts of Wudang culture, which are of high academic value and great significance.