Comparative Study Of Analogies In Mencius And Chuang Tzu

When proposing their theories and opinions, all the scholars in pre-Qin dynasty apply abundant analogies. Mencius, one of the Confucius classics, has been included in The Four Books and widespread, which is inseparable from the abundant application of rhetoric in which analogies have a high frequency of occurrence. Chuang Tzu, a model for Taoism and praised as one of the Three Profundities with another two classics, Lao Tzu and The Book of Changes, outstands for its unique style among all the classics in pre-Qin dynasty. In Chuang Tzu, the language charm is presented by its glaring imagination, especially by the novel and witty analogies. As famous thinker and writer in Warring States period, both Mencius and Chuang Tzu apply a great deal of analogies in their masterpieces. Their different ways of applying analogies deserve a comparative study.The thesis intends to conduct a comparative study of the analogies in between Mencius and Chuang Tzu from the perspectives of the classification, tenor, vehicle and connective. Quantitative and qualitative analysis are combined as the research methods. The structure of the thesis is as follows.1. As to the classification of the analogies, based on Chen Wangdao’s rhetoric theory, analogy is classified into simile, metaphor and metonymy. Based on this classification, analogies in Mencius and Chuang Tzu are sorted out and comparatively studied. Besides, what make the differences and similarities of applying analogies between the two classics are explored in the thesis. Analogy used in idioms is very special and is one of the focuses of this study. The application and effect of analogy in idioms in the two classics are comparatively studied.2. As to the tenors, all the tenors in Mencius and Chuang Tzu are summarized and comparatively studied. Besides, what make the difference of the tenors are explored.3. As to the vehicles, all the vehicles in Mencius and Chuang Tzu are summarized and comparatively studied.4. As to the connectives, the number of the connectives used in Mencius and Chuang Tzu is counted. Besides, the differences and similarities of the connectives between the two classics are analyzed.