A Study On The Rhyming Used By Men Of Letters From Hu Bei During The Tang And Five Dynasties

This dissertation observes 1491 poems and 58 verses by 52 men of letters from Hu Bei(湖北)in the Tang and Five Dynasties(唐五代). By analysing and connecting the total 1990 rhyme units(韵段), this dissertation sums up the rhyme system of rhyming used by men of letters from Hu Bei in the Tang and Five Dynasties, and reveals the phenomena of standardized phonology and dialectal accent reflected in rhyming of Hu Bei's poetry and verses in the Tang and Five Dynasties. This dissertation contains 4 chapters. The first chapter presents us a brief introduction to Chu language(楚语)prior to the Tang Dynasty and the opinions of it from men of letters in the Tang Dynasty, as well as the explanation of research materials and relevant questions. The second chapter focuses on the rhyming in modern—style poetry(近体诗)by men of letters from Hu Bei in the Tang and Five Dynasties, concluding there are altogether 28 rhyme classes( 韵部)in modern—style poetry, which include 13 classes of "Yin rhyme"(阴声韵)and 15 classes of "Yang rhyme"(阳声韵). In this chapter, the phenomena of "Chu rhyme"(出韵)and "Jie rhyme"(借韵)are also closely discussed. In the third chapter, by studying the rhyming in classical—style poetry(古体诗)and verses, it sums up 25 rhyme classes, which include 10 classes of "Yin rhyme", 8 classes of "Yang rhyme"and 7 classes of "Ru rhyme"(入声韵). This chapter also compares between the rhyme classes in classical—style poetry and those in modern—style poetry, mainly focusing on the special rhyme of different classes as well as its causes and phonological essence reflected. The fourth chapter is a survey on the rhyming of rising tone(上声)and falling tone(去声)in classical—style poetry in Hu Bei, concentrating on analysing its uses and causes during both the early and late periods of Tang Dynasty, testifying to the emergence of the phenomenon of "lower rising tone becomes falling tone"(浊上变去)in the early of Tang Dynasty. This dissertation can not only provide dynastic materials for the establishment of Hubei's dialectal history, but also contribute to the research on standardized phonology in the Tang Dynasty.