The Study Of Holy Fool Images In Chinese Ancient Novels

After Buddhism had been introduced into China since Han Dynasty,a number of monks images have appeared in biography literature and Buddhist novels,and another alternative images--holy fool images have appeared at the same time.Holy fool images are production of Buddhism,Chinese Confucianism and Taoism,as well as Chinese folk culture.It reflects the world view of “unity of heaven and human” and the humanity sight of “equality of all living beings”.We can say that,holy fool images reflect the life pursue of Chinese people,both free from vulgarity and aware of all people on the world.It also interprets Buddhist universal meaning of saving all human beings by unique point of view.This paper takes the holy fool images as breakthrough point,and takes subject study and image study as a base.It meticulously screen and present holy fool images in biography literature,literary sketches and popular novels from Western Han and Eastern Han Dynasties to Ming and Qing Dynasties,and classify these holy fool images according six motifs.Then it makes a list,analysis and induction of holy fool images in each motif,thus summarizes the features of shallow appearance,crazy behavior,pure hearts and magic power of holy fool images in Chinese ancient novels,and it interprets the persistent belief,merciful heart and divine intervention which are implied in their rebel appearances and crazy behaviors,finally manifests the thematic meaning of holy fool images.On this basis,it explores the impact of Buddhist literature,ancient India literature and Chinese classics literature on holy fool images by hard and thorough research,and explores Chinese cultural elements and aesthetic significance represented by holy fool images.This paper is divided into six parts:The introduction mainly introduces the research origin,research status,research methods,and defines the research object and scope of this paper.The first chapter mainly introduces the theory of thematology and its development history at home and abroad,analyses the close relationship between thematology and this research;and defines the concept and research scope of the research object of this paper—holy fool images.The second chapter mainly introduces basic characteristics of the development of Chinese Buddhism in Wei Jin Southern and Northern Dynasties,Sui and Tang Dynasties,Song and Yuan Dynasties and Ming and Qing Dynasties,and puts holy fool images in the context of Buddhism development,concretely analyses the features of holy fool images in different dynasties: holy fools in Wei Jin Southern and Northern Dynasties are mostly Indian and Western monks,they preaches their religions by magic spells and tried their best to keep a foothold in Central Plains;holy fools in Sui and Tang Dynasties are classical types of holy fool images,they were good at meditation and theurgy,and were willing to publicize their personalities and helping others;holy fools in Song and Yuan Dynasties were grass roots wandering in folk,they tried their best to elaborate rebellious spirit of Zen;holy fools in Ming and Qing Dynasties were secular holy fools living in the bottom of society,even associated with beggars,and became the farewell of holy fool images in declining period of Buddhism.The third chapter correctly apply the research method of thematology,it meticulously screen and present holy fool images in biography literature,literary sketches and popular novels from Western Han and Eastern Han Dynasties to Ming and Qing Dynasties,and classify these holy fool images according six motifs: Motif of Saving People and the World;Motif of Reincarnation of Saints;Motif of Stopping Killing and Protecting Lives;Motif of Ignoring Discipline;Motif of Predicting the future;Motif of Cutting in Two.The fourth chapter mainly explores generalization of holy fool images in popular novels.After Ming and Qing Dynasties,although Buddhist forces has declined,holy fool images still existed.The spirits of not enslaved by materials,uninhibited madness,laisser faire and saving the world and people of holy fool images exists not only in Buddhist literature,but also in popular novels.The fifth chapter mainly elaborates the origin relations among the six motifs holy fool images reflect and Buddhism and ancient India literature,reveals the profound influence Buddhist literature and ancient India literature have on holy fool images.This chapter makes hard and thorough research of the origin of holy fool images shaping,reveals that many Buddhist thoughts has impacted holy fool images shaping such as “six spiritual penetrations”,karma,circle through the six worlds,equality of all living beings and to achieve Buddha by sudden enlightenment and so on.The sixth chapter discusses Chinese cultural elements and aesthetic significance represented by holy fool images.Although holy fool were a kind of literary image which was influenced by Buddhism,it was still born in the soil of Chinese culture and was inextricably linked with Chinese culture.This chapter analyses holy fool images from aspects of secular Buddhism,Zen Buddhism and influences from Chinese classical novels;it discusses aesthetic significance of holy fool images from aspects of outlook on life of ignoring material things,world outlook of unity of heaven and man and mercy view of delivering all living beings.The conclusion summarizes the features of holy fool images and the significance of it in literary history and cultural history.Holy fools conflate madness and humble,stupidity and wisdom,insaneness and soberness,holiness and vulgarity,greatness and tininess,and practice the purpose of releasing souls from purgatory,delivering all living beings and caring lives of Buddhism by transcendent and heartshaking images.The “holy” and “insane” appearance of holy fools hides great wisdom which gives rise to life and growth in nature.