Rebel And Regression: The Contrary Attitude To Traditonal Culture In "Sanyan"

Late in Ming Dynasty, a lot of aspects, like politics, economy and culture, were struck by burgeoning ideas. Dramatic changes in social life and diversified philosophies reflected society. Feng Menglong, as a all-around literary writer, a researcher and a keen observer, portrayed the social panorama through his works. His works reflected the influence on the economic layout and mode of production brought by population distribution after economy south-shifting in the mid and late of Ming Dynasty, in addition to the position change of farming, labour, business, and customs trend.We could clearly notice Feng's criticism toward traditional ethics through his works, but we could also find some clues to back to tradition. This paradox was caused by literator's anxiety when feudal dictation fell down.The 1^st chapter takes the example of "sanyan"(《Evident Words to Enlighten the World》,《Comprehensive Words to Admonish the World》and《Lasting Words to Awaken the World》). There are 3 parts to reflect Feng's rebellion against traditional culture, and his rebellion and regression. In part 1, it points out mercantilism, cruel punishment in addition to market itself were the main reasons why people gave up bureaut toward business. The newly rising bourgeois realized in order to change the passive condition, that was to be controlled by hard national rules even though they got enough wealth, they had to be one of them and step into bureau by reading. In the 2^nd part, it discusses the business family's conception revolution in certain circumstance. In part 3, it points out up-to-date theory, social class change, family and country sense's weak, ethnics missing.The 2^nd chapter analysis inevitable regression to traditional culture in Feng's works in 4 aspects,i.e. Ethic, religion, female and aesthetics. In part 1, it points out the unbreakable ethics frame, i.e.officer should follow the demand of king, son should follow the demand of father, wife should follow the demand of husband. In part 2, it clarified Feng's local religion in the basis of Confucius, even though it seems Feng denied all traditional ethics. Part 3 focuses on consciousness of paradox and coexistence under mainstream sex regulation, i.e.virtue, and non-mainstream sex regulation,i.e.openness. And even it seems non-mainstream sex regulation was well woven in the works, it would give in to non-mainstream sex regulation's narration mode. Part 4 points out intellectuals in mid and late Ming Dynasty represented by Feng were at loss between man's savage and vague. Those intellectuals expressed their beautiful wishes through self-creation, lampoon society, highlight self-talent. The 3^rd chapter analyses the reason why "sanyan" is the rebellion against traditional culture, at the same time, a regression. The reason for rebellion is below. The change of social trend was reflected in literature. A group of frustrated intellectuals who failed in imperial examination accepted Lizhi's idea, and set up a unique angel of view after interacted with people in mid and low level, such as Hou Huiqin. Western religion and customs spread by foreign churchman cast certain influence on scholar-bureaucrat like Feng. The reason for regression is below. As one of the scholar-bureaucrats, Feng had his unique identification and composing target. Social structure in traditional culture reflects its rationality which lead to mass support. The spread channel in that period determines that the metaphor of Feng characteristic and the speech arts of the folk actors should meet the the expression of people's demand from mid and low class. Feng would never break the culture frame set by the ruler since in his whole life he never give up imperial examination, Feng avoided political lash on purpose.Feng is a typical intellectual in late Ming Dynasty, with abundant works. This paper starts from its representative,i.e."sanyan" , discusess its paradox attitude toward traditional culture, and hope to return to the original idea and represent the spirit condition of intellectuals in that period.