Du Fu Jen Sexual Ethics Inquiry

Du Fu is a famous poet in Tang Dynasty. Many of his poems are very popular in thehistory and they are familiar to lots of ancient and modern people. He is considered to bethe model intellectual in literary field because of his moral character. He adhered toConfucian ethical principles throughout his life and was admired by many people. Thisthesis tries to find out the implication of Du Fu’s philosophy of mercy, give the philosophicsource and reasons for it, then search out the textual reflection of it in his poems andindicate its significance. There are3chapters in it.The first one is about the development of his philosophy of mercy. It can be datedback to the mercy philosophy of Confucius and Mencius. Du Fu adopted and developedthe two thinkers’ philosophy. His philosophy of mercy was based on his atheism, deepunderstanding of the inner features and rules of all things and his devotion to the countryand the king. It was affected by times background, his family background and unique lifeexperience. The philosophy included universal love, helping the poor, thrift, mutualprosperity and emphasis on peace. Those ideas were united.The second one is about the textual reflection of his philosophy in his poems. First thechapter analyzes the true personality, the kindness in his acts to help the people and themerit of his moral character reflected in his poems. Next the chapter is about his loyalty tothe country and the king, his consideration and care for human and the nature, his honestyand faithfulness to friends and his filial duty to parents and care for the younger kin. Thoseare four parts of his moral deeds. Last the second chapter discusses the two moral conflicts:the conflict between loyalty to the king and care for the people and the conflict between hispersonal integrity and his effort to live on in hard times. The second chapter also discussesthe moral choices he took.The last one tells the significance of the philosophy of mercy in his poems. It reflectedthe development of traditional Confucian thoughts. In modern society it gives some moralclues in our life. We can learn from Du Fu so that we can maintain the harmony betweenone another, between individuals and society and between human and nature.