On Newly Unearthed Stone Inscription And Literature Creation In Tang Dynasty

This dissertation studies the unique creation process of article, especially epigraph, in Tang Dynasty systematically by adopting article the creation process in Tang Dynasty as research object, the newly unearthed stone inscription as carrier, meanwhile the documents handed down from ancient times as reference. This study breaks through the stereotyped concept of prose creation which is formed since the period of May Fourth Movement, and restores the significance of ancient Chinese article-ology. It alao reveals a number of special literary phenomena, and makes the original features of practical genre in Tang Dynasty reoccur.Six chapters contained in this dissertation fosus on the following aspects respectively:First, the origin and correlation of epitaph and tablet inscription. Employing the newly unearthed stone inscription as main material, and the relevent records in the documents handed down from ancient times as supplement, Chapter One surveys the origin and establishment of epitaph style from a new point of view, and distinguishs the similarities and differences between epitaph and tablet inscription. Then, it summarizes the respective functions and relationship of Zhiwen and Mingwen in epigraph, and clarifies the distinction and relationship between epitaph and tablet inscription, Zhiwen and Mingwen, in the sense of text style.Second, coauthoring phenomenon in article creation in Tang Dynasty. The newly unearthed stone inscription shows a great variety of article creation methods in Tang Dynasty. Campared with the documents handed down from ancient times, coauthoring phenomenon in practical text is extremely unique. Chapter Two discusses the origin of coauthoring, the coauthoring phenomenon in practical text and the way of coauthoring in Tang Dynasty systematically.Third, research on the newly unearthed stone inscription and signature of text in Tang Dynasty. Different from the documents handed down from ancient times, most newly unearthed stone inscription contains the signature of the author, the transcriber, the person who write the title and the carver. This is most conspicious character of stone inscription in the form of text. Chapter Three makes an overall survey of formation and evolution of signature fashion from three stages, and studies the category, form, content and function of signature integratedly.Fourth, stylization in article creation in Tang Dynasty. Stylization in article creation is a prevailing phenomenon in official document writing and practical text writing during Six Dynasties and the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Epigraph is a practical genre which attracts the public’s attention widely, so it is unavoidable for the appearance of stylization during the process of writing. Chapter Four illustrates the stylization phenomenon in article creation in Tang Dynasty which is reflected by the newly unearthed stone inscription and format copying in Mingwen specifically. It also makes the objective evaluation on the article value and literary significance of this creation model.Fifth, the development of epitaph creation in Tang Dynasty. Studying the development and evolvement of epitaph in Tang Dynasty is one more focus of this dissertation. Chapter Five, based on the development feature of epitaph in Tang Dynasty, elaborates the relationship between epitaph and syntax in the style of Li Sao, the influence of the Ancient Prose Movement to the epitaph creation, and revival of Parallel Style reflected on epitaph creation, respectively. It depicits the unique creation technique of epitaph in Tang Dynasty during different historical period.Sixth, the circulation and distribution of inscribed stone in Tang Dynasty and the collation value of stone inscription. As for stone inscription, its creation fulfilled and its distribution begins only after the carving is finished. By expounding the steps of examing and selecting stone, rubbing, Chapter Six specifies the process of circulation and distribution of inscribed stone in Tang Dynasty further. Furthermore, this chapter exemplifies the type and formation cause of different versions of volumn text and stone inscription, as well as the special advantage and error of stone inscription.So the advantage of stone inscription should be brought into full play and the error should be discerned when stone inscription is used to emend the documents handed down from ancient times.