The Research Of The Parable Ode In The Pre-tang Period

The parable ode refers to the works of ode which applies the method of fable and has both the characters of “sustenance” and “story-telling”.There are three premises of the parable ode: to restore the authentic appearance of Chinese ancient fables;to respect the narrative characteristics of odes;to take into account the narrative characteristics of fables,such as “sustenance” and “story-telling”.The reasons for the birth of the parable ode in the pre-Tang period are as follows:the development of language and the mutual influence of ode and fable;the application of fable in ode to enhance the allegorical function of ode;the “question and answer” structure of ode which facilitates the creation of fable;the “quoting”tradition in the pre-Qin period and the age where fables prevail produce the parable ode;the secluded natural environment of Chu area and the traditional customs of“believing in ghosts and emphasizing on extravagant sacrifices” provide the discourse resources and imagination space for the creation of the parable odes by Qu Yuan and Song Yu.Classified by ideological contents,the parable odes in the pre-Tang period could be divided into four categories: “the cultivation of one's morality”,“the remonstrance to the emperor”,“the satire on the evil of the society” and “the feelings produced by thoughts and aesthetic appreciations”.The parable odes which belong to “the cultivation of one's morality” category demonstrates three aspects of the ancient people: firstly,Qu Yuan's odes “the presentation of one's ideals to the saints”,“the wondering of spirits to express one's aspirations” and “the practice of divination”express the author's pride and aloofness,his desire to support the emperor in the ruling of the kingdom,and his patriotic spirit.This moral connotation has become thin and secular in the later generations' imitation of Qu Yuan's parable odes.Secondly,the parable odes that contains Buddhist or Taoist philosophies emphasizes that mankind should pursue the truth in order to reach the transcendence of the soul.Thirdly,a number of parable odes with “ask and answer” structure,“seven parts”structure demonstrate that the scholars should maintain their integrity regardless of their birth or social status.The parable odes which belong to “the remonstrance to the emperor” category tries to persuade the emperor to practice the kingly way,run a frugal government and rely on courtiers with noble characters and ability byconstructing a picture of “wise emperor”,“prosperous society”,as well as carrying out self-abasement,acting as the goddess,imitating objects or the way of animals.The parable odes which belong to “the satire on the evil of the society” category aim at “satirizing people and society” and “dispersing evil”.The parable odes which belong to “the feelings produced by thoughts and aesthetic appreciations” category depict the environment.This category integrates the feelings produced by the historical changes of the realm,the relations between the emperors and the courtiers,and the production of literature works with aesthetic appreciation of the environment.As a narrative text,the parable ode in pre-Tang period create alienated reading situation for the reader through its narration of the absurd.Its“endorsements”narration is based on object investigation,and “endorsing” makes the text have the characteristics of “double voice speech”.It applies “ask and answer” structure or“dialogues” as the main narrative structure.