A Comparative Study On Tao Yuanming's And Thoreau's Idea Of Returning To Nature

This thesis is a comparative study on Tao Yuanming?365?-427?,one of the most celebrated Chinese poets,and Henry David Thoreau?1817-1862?,a major Transcendentalist writer of the 19^th Century.In spite of vast geographical,temporal and cultural distances between them,Tao Yuanming and Thoreau coincides in returning to nature;the return to nature is at once a return to the natural world and their true selves.The purpose of the present study is to compare Yuanming's and Thoreau's idea of returning to nature through an analysis of their socio-cultural backgrounds,their life paths,selected works by Tao as well as Thoreau's masterpiece Walden.The main body of this thesis consists of three parts.The first part investigates the two writers'socio-cultural backgrounds,or,more precisely,the overlaps between Neo-Taoist and Transcendentalist conceptions of“self”and“nature”.The second part examines how Yuanming and Thoreau followed a relatively conventional path earlier in their lives and then courageously turned their backs on conventional values to pursue a markedly independent course so that they could live in accord with the promptings which came from their true selves.The thesis contends that Yuanming opted for reclusion chiefly to preserve his true nature whereas Thoreau moved to Walden Pond for both personal and public reasons;yet they converge in championing individuality over unthinking conformity.The first section of the third part deals with Yuanming's and Thoreau's convergent embracement of voluntary simplicity.To live a materially simple life is by no means to practice asceticism,but rather to be content with a modest sufficiency of material things and pursue a rich inner life.The rest of the third part examines how Yuanming and Thoreau drew spiritual strength from reading,writing,farming,and living in harmony with the natural world.By a comparative study of Yuanming's and Thoreau's idea of returning to nature,not only can we deepen our understanding of the two literary icons,but we can also learn valuable lessons with regard to how to establish a harmonious relationship between human beings and nature as well as human beings and themselves.