Zhuangzi Temperament, Zen State

Yuan Hongdao was a key figure of "Gong An school" which initiated literary innovation in Ming Dynasty, whose literary thought, literary works once influnced later thoughts and compositions of man of letters for a long time and are being liked and taken seriously by people up to now. Though his thinking and style were different during earlier stage and later stage, his literary thought that "expressing a temperament all his own, breaking away from convention", his interest of life that "taking a laisser-faire attitude, showing high ideals by simple living" and his unrestrained style were identical from beginning to end. At present, the scope and depth of studies on Yuan Hongdao are expanding continually. The studies are not only making and collating the collection of selected his works, also analyzing them in detail from different angles. While studies on the theoretical basis of his literary thought and his inheriting and accepting the viewpoint of predecessors are much fewer. For this reason, to counter this reality, this essay attempts to carry on the deeper research on the question mentioned above in the following three parts:I. The man, Yuan HongdaoThis part attempts to have a hold in general about the man, by summarizing some important stages and affairs which Yuan Hongdao had experienced hi the whole life. Hongdao was born in a family who attached importance to education. He had been influnced by his grandfather and uncle ever since he was a child. Especially, his uncle Gong Weixue had enlightened the development of Hongdao. Hongdao became a successfulcandidate in the highest imperial examinations, appointed country magistrate and organized "Pu Tao She" etc throughout his life. From a whole series of affairs, we see not only Hongdao's integrity but also the transformation of his thought. Hongdao was a nucleus of literary innovation. He had put forward many literary propositions all his life.II. The thought of Taoist School produced influence upon Hongdao's compositionThis part is divided into two subheadings to carry on analysis and explaination.i. The inheriting of the viewpoint of Taoist School "Advocating Water"Hongdao seeked for new and shifty things in writing essays, opposed the style of "back to the ancients" which only knew to imitate and follow outmoded rules; advocated "writing a composition from one's heart and making a conversation thoughtlessly" and "speaking without any inhibitions" instead of using those words which were difficult to understand. The standpoints mentioned above were being formed because Hongdao was deeply influenced by "cultural spirit of water" and inherited the viewpoint of Taoist School "Advocating Water". Yuan Hongdao had an affinity with water throughout his life. Taoist School looked water as the means leading to "Tao".ii. The inheriting of the viewpoint of Zhuang Xue "Advocating Feeling".The soul of Yuan Hongdao's literary thinking was laying stress on the temperament. He put forward the literary stand that "expressing a temperament all his own, breaking away from convention" first, and sought "poems are made by spilling overthe source of soul". When he wrote poems and essays, he attached importance to personal feeling all along. He conducted himself hi a more honest way. Most of his works reflected the real temperament of man. These things had a direct bearing in that Hongdao was deeply in love Zhuang Xue all his life. The classical work Zhuangzi talked about affection many times, more than fifty times. Inheriting the viewpoint of Zhuang Xue "Advocating Feeling", Hongdao expressed a real temperament in his works and personality.III. The Buddhism produced influence upon Hongdao's outlook on life and arguments in writing.This part is divided into three subheadings to mainly expound that the Chan sect and Buddhism produced influence upon the thought and style of Hongdao.i. The general mood of Buddhism became current. The popularity of Buddhism in the middle period Ming Dynasty provided a big background of the times for t...