The Study Of Cao Zhi’s Literary Thoughts

Cao Zhi is the most popular poet and writer during Jian’an period, he is calledthe most outstanding poet of Jian’an. He left many excellent articles to descendants,made a significant contribution to the development of Chinese literature; At the sametime as one of the leaders of the literary circle at that time, he had unique perspectivesof the function of literature, creation, appreciation, they were self-contained,embodying the the new changes of literary concept during Wei’s taking the place ofHan, reflecting the development of literary thoughts in the era, it enriched anddeveloped the ancient Chinese literature thoughts, and also made an importantcontribution to the development of literary thoughts.This thesis focuses on the study of Cao Zhi’s literary thoughts. Analyzingpolitics, literary trends and his life chances in that era, it is to illustrate the formationof Cao Zhi’s literary thoughts and theoretical achievements in order to evaluate hiscontribution to the history of Chinese literary thoughts.This thesis is divided into seven chapters. From Chapter Three to Chapter Sevenare the key parts, they focus on Cao Zhi’s literary thoughts.Chapter One is the introduction part, it specifies the significance of choosing thetopic, previous and present research, the disadvantages of present research and thepurpose of this article. It also includes the illustration of the different versions of CaoZhi’s literary works, the research methods of the thesis and innovative points.Chapter Two is to indicate the reasons and characteristics for the formation ofCao Zhi’s literary thoughts by analyzing political, economic, cultural background andliterary trends in that era. It also introduces Cao Zhi’s family, friends, adoption indispute, and life full of frustrations. He was born in the troubled times and grew in themilitary, he lived a vagrant life following his father. This experience gave afar-reaching impact on Cao Zhi’s life, it made him set a great ambition to serve thecountry and people, it had never changed during his whole life. Cao Zhi and hisbrother Cao Pi as well as their friends had a happy time, they drunk,wrote poems andtraveled round. But Cao Zhi and Cao Pi had a bad relationship because of the dispute of adoption. It led to Cao Zhi’s life full of frustrations.It influenced on his life valuepursuit and literary thoughts.Chapter Three is to illustrate Cao Zhi’s views about the function of literature.Cao Zhi thought Literature had following functions such as assisting politics andmanaging state affairs, punishing the evil and expanding the good, immortal fame,lyric, aesthetic entertainment and other individual functions.Chapter Four indicates Cao Zhi’s aesthetic pursuit of theory as well as writingpractice. Influenced by aesthetic tendencies of the times, Cao Zhi claimed aestheticpursuit of loving impassioned and admiring beautiful words, he had a clearunderstanding of the essential characteristics of literature, reflecting the deepunderstanding of pure literature.Chapter Five is to discuss Cao Zhi actively absorbing nutrients from the literaryheritage as his creative nourishment, reflecting his positive and innovative ideas ofliterature development.Chapter Six is mainly on Cao Zhi’s views of literary creation,,it mainly discussesCao Zhi’s views of the origin of the creation, the producing of inspiration, thealtering of articles, the cultivation of the author and creation experience.Chapter Seven mainly discusses Cao Zhi’s views about the importance ofcriticism, appreciation styles, critics’ cultivation and standards of criticism.On the basis of deep reading of the literature data, this article uses the followingmethods such as analysis, comparative method and synthesis. It is to research andexplore Cao Zhi’s literary thoughts through multi-angles and overall studies.