Shao's Li Philosophical Ideas And His Poetry

Shao Yong, a prolific poet in the early North Song dynasty, proves to be a great Li philosopher. Shao's Li philosophical ideas exert profound influence on the thoughts, contents and style of his poems, as well as on his poetic criticism. With the analysis of his poetry anthology Yi Chuan Ji Rang Ji as a departing point, this thesis attempts to find out the Li philosophy in shao's poetic criticism by referring to works such as Huang Ji Jing Shi, Guan Wu Nei Wai Pian, and Yu Qiao Wen Dui, and later-scholars'comments on him. In concrete terms, which part of his Li philosophical ideas is presented and in what way. Besides, the status of Shao's poetry in literature history will be pursued.The present thesis consists of three chapters.Chapter one serves as an introduction to the North Song Li philosophy and Shao Yong's philosophical ideas. It starts from a brief review of the rise of the Li philosophy in the North Song dynasty and Shao Yong's friendship with his contemporaries, especially, Zhang Zai, Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao. Therefore, Shao Yong's philosophical ideas are brought out, his particular Xiang system (law of universe) being highlighted.Chapter two analyzes Shao Yong's poetic criticism which is under the right influence of the Li philosophy. The analysis is carried out from the following three perspectives. Firstly, it points out that Shao inherits the Confucian tradition on the "enlightening, observing, educating, and criticizing"functions of literary woks, with educating function being emphasized. Secondly, Shao's idea of "thoughts first, rhetoric second" in writing receives discussion. Thirdly, Shao's point on objectivity which is independent from the author's subjective feeling deserves attention.Chapter three makes an investigation into Shao Yong's poems that show the impact of the Li philosophy. This impact can be detected in both contents and style of his poems. His philosophical ideas, Xiang system, and the ways of self-cultivating are employed to illustrate the impact. The part of conclusion deals with the status of Shao Yong's poetry in literature history. The analysis related to the Li philosophical poems, the characteristics of this poetic school and the poems in the Song dynasty as a whole prove Shao Yong's widespread influence. Therefore, Shao Yong should be viewed as a trend-setter of the Li philosophical poems, a promoter and real participant of the characteristics within the Song poems.