Research On "Tomb Excavation Novels" Of Wei,Jin,Southern And Northern Dynasties

"Excavating tombs" refers to the behavior of living people opening the tombs of the dead for certain purposes,which is mainly denoted by such verb phrases as "rob a tomb","excavate a tomb","dig a tomb","open a coffin" and "destroy a coffin"."Tomb excavation novels" are those with the plot of "excavating tombs",which is an important link in narration of such novels and the beginning of a story.As a special social phenomenon,"excavating tombs" appeared in novels on various themes in Wei,Jin,Southern and Northern Dynasties,which mainly resulted from its broad and deep realistic basis—many events of excavating tombs that really happened in society.Those mentioned in historical records of Wei,Jin,Southern and Northern Dynasties can be classified into five types,namely robbing tombs "for wealth",excavating tombs "for venting anger","for breaking geomancy" and "for proper burial",and special events of excavating tombs.Such a large number and a great variety of tomb excavation events also became realistic material for "tomb excavation novels".In terms of main plots and intentions,"tomb excavation novels" can be classified into "novels on robbing tombs" based on true records or beautification and fabrication of tomb robberies in society;"novels on excavating tombs for proper burial" based on the funeral rites of changing or sharing burial places;"novels on entering tombs"restricted to the space of tombs;"novels on rebirth caused by excavating tombs" with the plot of rebirth appearing with excavating tombs.In addition,the plot of excavating tombs is also involved in some other novels,such as prophecy and superstition novels,necromancer novels and detective novels,in which it is not a major plot but denotes regime change,verifies the occult of necromancers,or becomes a basis for judgment From the perspective of the plot of "excavating tombs",research on novels can give a full picture of the social phenomenon of "excavating tombs" shown in novels of Wei,Jin,Southern and Northern Dynasties,as well as psychology at that time and cultural significance it represents,including supernatural beliefs,ideas on funeral rites,attitude toward death and interest in uncanny and supernatural thingsWith "tombs" and "excavating tombs" as the space and plot of narration,"tomb excavation novels" were shown in a comprehensive and diversified way and played a unique and important role in novels of Wei,Jin,Southern and Northern Dynasties.They are of special artistic value to the study of novels,and have been further developed after Wei and Jin Dynasties,which is embodied in more detailed and specific records based on real events of excavating tombs,and creation of novels with more complex and attractive plots based on excavation of tombs.With Research on "Tomb Excavation Novels" of Wei,Jin,Southern and Northern Dynasties as a research perspective,it not only focuses on special types of ancient novels,but also helps to have a panoramic view of ancient novels.