The Research On Miscellaneous Biography In Wei-Jin And Southern-Northern Dynasties

Miscellaneous biography is an important part of the history type in the four categories of ancient title catalogue. Originating from XiHan Dynasty and developing in Donghan Dynasty, it was prosperous in Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties. Miscellaneous biography not only has a large number, but also coveres a lot of grounds, which displays every aspect of social life in Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties. This dissertation is intended to research miscellaneous biography in Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties. The dissertation consists of seven parts.Introduction. This part defines miscellaneous biography firstly. Miscellaneous biography is an independent book which includes of similar people without a certain style or name and it is unofficial history. Second, consulting the description and classification of miscellaneous biography in the catalogue of history books, this dissertation divides miscellaneous biography in Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties into seven categories and then introduces the origin and development of each type.Chapter 1. This chapter analyzes the reasons why miscellaneous biography was prosperous in Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties. On the one hand, it is due to the style's development. Early in the Pre-Qin era, biographical literature was already germinating and developing. Sima Qian's Shi Ji and Ban Gu's Han Book had a significant influence on both history style and literature devices to the latter biography and fiction. At the end of XiHan Dynasty, LiuXiang created miscellaneous biography which inherited Shi Ji and also had unique artistic style. In DongHan Dynasty, the number of miscellaneous biography was increasing, and the writing techniques were becoming increasingly mature which provided the basis for the prosperity of miscellaneous biography in Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties. On the other hand, it is closely related to the background. The economic conditions, political system, social ethos and traditional culture in Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties played an important role in the miscellaneous biography's prosperity.Chapter 2-4. These three chapters researches seven categories of biography in Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties, namely state biography, family biography, filial son biography, loyal courtier biography, woman biography, famous gentleman biography, hermit biography. The dissertation does textual research on the situation of their authors, existence, wringting time and different editions, compiles the scattered biographies and analyzes the contents and literary features of each category miscellaneous biography. Generally speaking, Jin Dynasty has the largest number in miscellaneous biography of Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties. The authors of miscellaneous biography are mainly historians, and a small part of them are literators. Miscellaneous biography in Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties was seriously scattered and lost. It is still deficient although many scholars have made some compilation work. Miscellaneous biography in Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties enjoys rich contents which are authentic and fictitious simultaneously. It has unique artistic charm which creates all sorts of characters, using the language description, action description, detail description, comparison contrast, and many other techniques of expressions.Chapter 5. This chapter discusses the ideological tendency of miscellaneous biography in Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties. It was relatively freedom in the ideological and cultural fields in Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties, and various kinds of thoughts developed in this period, which made the idea of miscellaneous biography quite complex. Nonetheless, Confucianism still held the dominant position which miscellaneous biography reflected. The miscellaneous biography in Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties reflectd Confucianism widely, such as ancestor woship, sage politics, moral supremacy, telepathy between humans and nature, and so on. Besides, miscellaneous biography also reflected metapsychical climate which respected hermit and nature, emphasized individuality and Buddhist thoughts on immortality of the soul, karma, karma reincarnation.Chapter 6. This chapter discusses the value of miscellaneous biography in Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties. Because miscellaneous biography has not only history features, but also literary features, so it has multiple values. From the aspect of history, miscellaneous biography is the important reference to compile and proofread history books. It also enriches historical theme. From the aspect of literature, miscellaneous biography provides material for the later literary works and its unique writing skill has an important influence on the later creation of biography and novel. In addition, miscellaneous biography widely reflects the folk customs of Han and Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties which could provide some history records for researching ancient folk customs, so it has the value of folklore.