| Mei Zengliang (1786—1856) was the most accomplished literary student of Yao Nai, master of the Tongcheng School, and also a writer with distinct personality among the writers in this school. He embodied not only the literary tradition of Tongcheng School but the shared characteristics of the writers in the recent history. For a long time, researches on him mainly concentrated on his proposed thoughts of "seeking of truth in line with time'" and the interpretations on his particular articles, which are far from enough regarding the comprehensive studies on him.This thesis consists of three chapters:In chapter one Writer's Research. Mei Zengliang lived is outlined. During the time of Emperor Jiaqing and Qianlong in Qing Dynasty, the Opium War and the Peaceful Heaven Movement had great impacts on the society. And there were big alterations to the society, politics, economy, literature as well as the ambience of scholars.Mei devoted his whole life to reading, teaching and being an officer in the capital. And his main accomplishment is in literature instead of being an officer. In his adolescence, he gave up rhymed prose and diverted to essays. Later on the deprivation of his family members made him become more and more simple. During the time he held in office, he focused his main attention on literary activities and extended the influence of Tongcheng School form the capital to all over China. In his old ages he experienced the pain of Peaceful Heaven Movement which gave him a deeper understanding of the society and life.His most important literary argument "in line with the time" and "seeking of truth" integrated the standpoint of traditional literary criticism with the then time, and reflected his concern on reality. What's more, he had his own view over the problem of non-pragmaticism and inspirations in creation.Chapter Two is the Sub-research of His Creations. Among his different styles of creations a specific analysis is given to his essays. The political argument is the kind with much philosophy and typical Tongcheng style, which reflected on the one hand the criticism of Mei Cengliang on reality and was directly targeted toward the emperor's power; on the other hand, his isolation from authority and the state of mind maintaininghis own integrity.There are also many practical essays which include foreword, postscript, letters and tablets etc. these are touched upon factors such as laws and regulations, boundary life, foreign invasion and communications with friends which shed light on his literary viewpoints on social reality as well as his daily genuine character.Some of his essays which narrate the persons give a vivid description to the common people with emotion and possess the style of the writer Gui Youguang. Put under the broad social background, some autobiographies about the VIPs are realistically depicted. They adopt the form of historical narration with complementary and argument. The scenery essays with elegance and simplicity is good at exploring deeper meaning and embodies the style of the writer of Tang Dynasty Liu Zongyuan,Chapter Three analyzes the Status and Impact of Mei Cengliang. His literary theory, creation practice as well as the reputation he enjoyed established his status in Tongcheng School. The latter generations regarded Yao Nai, Zeng Guofan and Mei Cengliang as the orthodox and imitated them. His impacts mainly lie in: first, the extensive communication expands the influence of Tongcheng School from the capital to all over China especially the Guangxi. Secondly, he bridges the natural transition from the Tongcheng School to Xiangxiang School.Mei's essay creation practice as well as his theory, to another extent, the overall essays of Tongcheng School gave a systematic summary, outline and new development to the traditional essays, and also had seminal influence to the new literature. All in all, an objective and rational judgment should be made under contemporary literature context. |
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