Li Kaixian Literary Research

Li Kaixian is a famous literature writer in the middle of Ming dynasty of China. Although great progress has been made in study of his all-life story and literary works, some gaps still remain, and studies related to his literary works are incomplete and not systematic. This present research focuses on the literary works of Li Kaixian, which consists of an Introduction, Part?on his works, and Part?on supplementation and updating of his life chronicle, and an Appendix.In Introduction, studies on works of Li kaixian are reviewed to show the achievement obtained and tasks needed to fulfill. Moreover, the goal and creativity of present study are explained in this part.Part?, including nine chapters, is a more complete, systematic, and profound investigation on works of Li Kaixian.Chapter 1, Life Story of Li Kaixian.The whole life of Li Kaixian is summarized to facilitate the understanding of his personal character and formation of his works.Chapter 2, Thoughts of Li Kaixian on Literature.As expressed in a lot of works of Li Kaixian, his thinking on literature is complicated. In this chapter, a thorough and fundamental analysis is carried out on five aspects, which include his emphasis on teaching function of literature; restoration and learning instead of obstinate follow up of ways from ancient time; his endorsement on expression of true emotion of human-being; advocating of a fusion of northern and southern literature style; and also an underscore of nature and popularity of literary works. Moreover, importance of thoughts of Li Kaixian in the trend of literary ideology of middle Ming dynasty and influence it exerts thereafter are pointed out.Chapter 3, Studies on Poems of Li Kaixian.Li Kaixian wrote a tremendous number of poems; however, hardly any research has been conducted on his poems up to date. This chapter concentrates on several types of Li Kaixian's poems, including politics, stay at home idle, Singing from Frontier fortress, monody, offerings, and sendoff. Through the analysis of his thinking in these poems, we can learn his noble character illustrated out in his concerns about the nation and the people, happiness and distress of his idle life in the countryside. We can also appreciate the artistic charm exhibited in these poems, at the same time we will understand role of his poems in development of thoughts of literature works in the middle of Ming dynasty, and also influences of these poems brings to later ages.Chapter 4, Studies on Essays of Li Kaixian.The essays written by Li Kaixian are remarkable not only by great number, but also by their high quality. Thus, in reality he should be highly praised in the history of essays of Ming dynasty, even development of essays in the entire Chinese ancient time. But up to now, the recognition to this opinion is still insufficient. In this chapter, four styles of his most literary and representative writings are selected for research, including "preface", "epitaph", "biography", and "miscellanea"; by analyzing these works we can learn his brave disclose of political drawbacks in the middle of Ming dynasty, especially his in-depth exposure and criticism of darkness in the official circles, this kind of courage was seldom in literary people and officials living in the same period. Moreover, essays of Li Kaixian are characterized by amiable and easy of approach, clear and smooth, touching and interesting, which exerts a lot of positive influences to development of essays in later age.Chapter 5, Studies on Non-dramatic songs by Li Kaixian.Although Li Kaixian lived in the northern part, he composed many south Non-dramatic songs. In this through analysis of existing Shu Yin·Zeng Dui Shan, Wo Bing Jiang Gao, Zhong Lu Xiao Ling, and Shi Shi Dao Nei, we can realize his concerns and distress to the Ming dynasty, which is compatible to mainstream literary thoughts in the middle of Ming dynasty. Simultaneously, the profound feeling to his friends, the love and emotion to his wife and children, and sorrow to their early death, which are expressed in the songs he composed, are so realistic and strong that people can touch the feeling in his heart which is in contrast to his unrestrained appearance.Chapter 6, Studies on Chinese Opera Written by Li KaixianThe Chinese operas written by Li Kaixian, especially Bao Jian Ji gave him tremendous honors. In this chapter, soword image is taken as an example, the characteristic structure and fundamental thoughts of Bao Jian Ji are examined and revisited; and also, the art of structure of Bao Jian Ji, especially the multiple-layer of themes are elaborated. Furthermore, a new investigation to theme of Yuan Lin Wu Meng is conducted using Fisherman image dream and Meng literature as cutting points. Moreover, relationship of trend of thoughts in the middle of Ming dynasty to Da Ya Chan is examined, and the large amount of internal evidence demonstrates that the author of Duan Fa Ji should be Li Kaixian. Chapter 7, Studies on the Ci Xue of Li KaixianCi Xue contains the theoretical views of Li Kaixian about Non-dramatic songs. A profound exploration indicates his opinions on the phonology and spoken parts of songs are invaluable.Chapter 8, Studies on Gai Ding Yuan Xian Chuan Qi compiled by Li KaixianGai Ding Yuan Xian Chuan Qi is a selected and edited collection of operas which was in charge by Li Kaixian. This chapter introduces the current situation of studies on this book, and also endorses the value of this book in history of opera theory.Chapter 9, Supplementation and Updating of the Chronicle of Li Kaixia's LifeThis chapter aims at the supplementation of gaps and correction of errors in the book Li Kaixian'life chronicle by Zeng Yuanwen and Li Yongxiang.Appendix consists of two parts, first is supplementations to Li Kaixian Zi Liao Hui Bian published currently; second is a textual research which suggests that Li Kaixian or Jia Sanjin is not the author of Jin Ping Mei.