Research Of The Literary Thoughts Of Master Yan's Family Instructions

Master Yan's Family Instructions by Yan Zhitui from the Northern Qi Dynasty is an authoritative book in the field of literature in the Northern Dynasties. As the last representative work in the late Northern and Southern Dynasties, Instructions has the distinct characteristics of summing up the North and South from the ancient time to then. Moreover, based on its stylistic feature and writing purpose of "organizing the family, educating the children", Instructions pays more attention to guiding and instructing with the thought of the Golden Mean and conservation. According to its stylistic feature, background information, family tradition and Yan Zhitui's personal experience, this paper tries to analyze the origin of its thoughts. Meanwhile, the paper gives an all-round description of Langya Yan family which is proficient in Confucianism with a long history of about one hundred years, and explores the peculiarities of literature in the Northern Dynasties.As for the pattern of the book, this paper makes a comprehensive investigation of its system in two ways. In the way of point, it focuses on specific categories; in the way of area, it dedicates to the theoretical outline. At the same time, the paper makes a comparison of Yan Zhitui and the contemporary critics in synchronic and diachronic perspectives. In synchronic perspective, it reveals a new style brought forth by Master Yan contrasted with other critics in the Northern Dynasties. In diachronic perspective, it points out the similar and different opinions between Master Yan and other critics in the Southern Dynasties such as Liuxie, Zhongrong, etc. In the end, the paper gives a just and sound evaluation of Master Yan's Family Instructions.