Research On Author, Culture Background And Text Of Yuan You

Since Liuxiang compiled the book of Chu Ci in the Western Han that was illustrated by Wangyi in the Eastern Han, Yuan You is always regarded as Quyuan's work, which is one of total 25 works by Quyuan recorded in Han Shu. In the middle Qing Dynasty, Hujunyuan first doubted whether Yuan You had been written by Quyuan, which become the focus of a heated argument from then on. However, by digging into what they had said, we find that they could not deny the traditional position that Yuan You was written by Quyuan with firm evidence, although their spirit of skepticism was valuable. Now, on the basis of the achievements of the senior scholars, we make a point of analyzing Hujunyuan's view and argue that according to the process of the book of Chu Ci's being compiled and the way of its being edited, Hu's reasoning that there is Zhao Hun without Yuan You or Yuan You without Zhao Hun is not unassailable. When speaking of Hanzhong in Yuan You, some people allege that he was an alchemist in the Qin Dynasty who gave service to Qinshihuang. But we think it is not the case. After reading and analyzing carefully what recorded in the history book we find that the people named Hanzhong in Yuan You is not the one in Shi Ji who accidentally have the same name of the former.In order to help to understand Yuan You more properly, we especially give a look at the cultural tradition of Taoism, and according to some newly unearthed documents about the Pre-Qin period, we place an emphasis on discussing the development of Taoism. We argue that the concept of Taoism revealed in Yuan You is very natural because Quyuan was born in the state of Chu where was the cradle of Taoism and he had been to the state of Qi twice as an emissary where was then the center of Taoism. We also look into the origin and development of the concept of supernatural being, and make it known that the common people then truly believed it, although it makes us today so surprised. At last, we briefly look into the concept of Taoism and supernatural being revealed in Yuan You.Quyuan is not necessarily regarded as a disciple and exerciser of Taoism although he referred to it in his works. By reading carefully the text of Yuan You, we examine the gist of it on the basis of the positions of senior scholars. We think that Yuan You is a result of sufferings and pains in despair and hopelessness just like Li Sao that was authored because of suffering great depression. At last, we compare Yuan You with Li Sao and find that the same in using subject matters in two texts only demonstrate that the traditional understanding about Yuan You's author is believable.