The Analysis Of Ancient Chinese Scholars Image In Eearly Qing Dynasty Novels

Since the ancient times, scholars, as a significant group in Chinese history, have alwayshad the responsibility of cultural heritage on their shoulders. This specific population in thefeudalism society at its infancy with strong individualism and independent personality hasgone downhill, out of many historical reasons in times of Ming and Qing Dynasties, personaldignity being humiliated, which are reflected in many novels of Early Qing Dynasty. Thisthesis is focusing on the study of the images of scholars in some novels of Early Qing Dynasty,mainly Yuanyang Needle, Strange Tales of a Lonely Studio and The Scholars, to analyze thetypical images of scholars in view of the historical status and the novels per se. The thesis iscomprised of five parts, first part of which is the introduction that gives the definitions ofscholar and Early Qing dynasty, review of the research and the method and significance of theresearch, and the last part of which is the conclusion. Followings are the overview of eachchapter of the thesis.Chapter one is Image Analysis of scholars in the Perspective of Imperial Exams. Firstly itpresents related situation of the exams, secondly analyses the reflection in the novel and theimpact on scholars’ image. Then it classifies and studies the scholars’ image in YuanyangNeedle, Strange Tales of a Lonely Studio and The Scholars. It analyses different living statesof typical scholars in detail and obtains concrete image of scholars: scholars with torturedsouls behaving exaggeratedly funny, immoral scholars running things ruthlessly and scholarswho sailed under false colors pretending to be pure unworthy of their titles.Chapter two, Image Analysis of Alternative Scholars in Imperial Examination Society,mainly focuses on three types of alternative scholars, that are i) image of scholars who areindifferent to fame and wealth–they treat their lives and the reality on a down to earth basis,looking at the world generously and objectively, not feeling helpless, narcissistic andcomplaining; ii) image of rebellious scholars–they have different thinking and life style withnormal people, expressing their dissatisfaction on the darkness and injustice of the imperialexamination society; and iii) image of scholars in Love Mode-this section respectivelyresearches the images of scholars under the Fame and Fortune Mode and the Best SentimentalMode. Scholars who chose the former mood are mostly representative realists; they strived forthe love of materialism and were more rational than emotional. They would easily changewives and were difficult to be loyal to one. And scholars who chose the latter mood followtheir inner mind, found soul mates in deed and pursued the purest love. Chapter three is Image of Scholars with Special Tendencies. And it focuses on threekinds of scholars who had the same proclivities: image of being fond of association, goingwhoring and homosexual.