A Study Of Metaphors In Chinese Classical Poetry

According to Lakoff's conceptual metaphor theory, metaphor is a basic way of human cognitive mechanism and metaphor is cross-domain mapping between a concrete domain and an abstract domain. It is systematic, generative and generalized, etc.In this essay, the author plans to analyze the conceptual metaphors in Chinese classical poetry. Through this research, the author aims to find:(1) What water metaphors are there in Chinese classical poetry? (2) What are the cultural reasons for these water metaphors in Chinese classical poetry? (3) Do all those water metaphors support Lakoff's major claims stated in the conceptual metaphor theory? At the same time the author will try to explain all these phenomena.An analysis of poetic metaphor is embodied by the research of water metaphor, which is chosen because the poems about water abound in all kinds of poems and express the true feelings of human beings. Through analyses the thesis draws a conclusion that as the influence of cultural factors, water metaphor represents different connotations in Chinese classical poetry.The paper is composed of five parts:Chapter 1 gives a brief description of the paper, including a short account of the research background, objectives, significance, and data of the study, the origin of the data and research methodology and the structure of this thesis.Chapter 2 presents some basic definitions, classifications, characteristics, functions of metaphor. Besides, the previous researches by linguists on metaphor are introduced. And it also provides the theoretical framework for the purpose of giving a cognitive interpretation to metaphor and Chinese classical poetry.Chapter 3 is the major part of this thesis, interpreting the mapping of water metaphor concretely. The cultural factors in Chinese classical poetry are also analyzed.Chapter 4 explains the rich enlightenment to the study.Chapter 5 provides the conclusion of the study, and also its limitations and a discussion of further research consideration.On the basis of linguistic data of Chinese classical poetry metaphor, the author concludes that there are four kinds of water metaphors as TIME IS WATER, LOVE IS WATER, SORROW IS WATER and HUMAN IS WATER, and the cultural reasons are the theory of Yin-Yang and universe in unity "Nature and Man as a Whole". By analyzing water metaphors in Chinese classical poetry, describing support and evidence to enrich and verify Lakoff's conceptual metaphor theory, the author concludes the metaphor features of Chinese classical poetry.