The Taoist And Confucian Scholar Of Southern Yangtze In Yuan Dynasty

This thesis tries to explore the life of Taoist and literati in Southern Yangtze region of Yuan Dynasty by studying their relationships. As a scholar result shows, most of taoists and literati were from Jiangxi Province and Zhejiang Province, and taoists were mainly xuanjiao taoist, while a majority of literati were imperial academicians. We have learned several factors contributing to the close relationship of taoist and literati. First, Taoists and literati in Southern Yangtze region shared some common interests, which contributed to their spiritual communication. Sencond, because of the high position of Zhang Liusun and Wu Quanjie in the court, literati in Southern Yangtze region had to rely on literati for their career.Third,taoists and literati were home owners who were both passengers in the captical. Forth, most of the taoist temples were of beautiful sceneries which always attract literati.There are two key factors making taoists in Southern Yangtze region literate more or less. First, a large amount of confucians became taoists, which increased the cultural level of Taoists. Second, Zhang Liusun and Wu Quanjie,who were influential among taoists, proposed that taoists should learn the Confucian culture.There were a great many confucians becoming taoists due to the following reasons: first, because of having interest in Taoism culture, confucians were willing to be taoists; second,a part of confucians were too poor to live and being taoists seemed to be the easiest way to survive; third, some of the parents made their children taoists,who were in poor health or couldn’t afford their tuition; forth, it was so difficult to be an official or some were so disappointed of the reality; fifth, some sholars took Taoism as another path leading to officials. According to the above, it is obvious that taoists in Yuan Dynasty were various, most of which were confusions, and which is the primary reason why Taoists looked like somewhat confucians.Literate taoists on one hand were talented in literature and the approved of by literation the other hand taoists were like confusions emotionally, concerning about current affairs, recommending the ones of great skills, contributing to the development of Confucians, and concerning about people. The main activities between Taoists and literati were having banquest together, travelling, writing to each other, writing poems for friends, Taoists asking for essays and daily interactions.