On The Understanding Of Lin Bu’s Image By Scholars In The Song Dynasty

The subject of this paper is the image of Lin Bu.Lin Bu was a famous poet in the early Northern Song Dynasty.The article focuses on the literati’s perception of Lin Bu’s image in the Song Dynasty,followed by an in-depth reading and analysis of Lin’s poems to determine whether Lin’s real image differs from the perception of scholars in the Song Dynasty;finally,based on the comparison and conclusion of the previous article,it explores why the majority of literati in the Zhao-Song period had an unreasonable perception of Lin Bu’s image.Except for the introduction and the remaining discussion,this paper is divided into three chapters in total.The first chapter deals with the literati’s perception of Lin Bu’s image in the two Song dynasties.This perception is reflected in their poems and articles as well as in the notebooks and novels of the time.The essay argues that people’s perception of Lin Bu can be roughly divided into three categories: first,a reclusive scholar with high morals;second,a false recluse who cheats his way to fame and fortune;and third,a sage who seeks ambition and practices the Way.The second chapter focuses on the analysis of the actual image of Lin Bu himself.The image is judged mainly on the basis of the poems made by Lin himself,as well as the practical behavior recorded in some documentary sources.In this chapter,the author finds that Lin Bu’s words and actions are not quite consistent.His ambition expression in poetry deviates from his actual behavior.What is certain is that he was by no means a mere recluse in literature and poetry.His real image is more inclined to that of a Confucian scholar who is forced to retire because of his unpopularity.The third chapter explores the reasons for Lin Bu’s generally recognized image as a hermit.Through the discussion in the first two chapters,we can learn that during the two Song dynasties,the vast majority of people regarded Lin Bu as a hermit,and only a very few people had different opinions.But the so-called mainstream perception does not correspond to his real image.So what factors contribute to the misconception of Lin Bu’s image? That is to say,what causes Lin Bu’s image of a hermit.This chapter argues that it is mainly due to these aspects: first,Lin Bu’s own self-shaping;second,objective reasons for the dissemination of literature;and third,the ruler’s intention.The remainder of this paper is a list of additions to how the literati perceived Lin Bu’s image after the Song dynasty.During the Yuan,Ming and Qing dynasties,people’s perceptions were influenced by the biographies of Lin Bu in official histories,and it was still common to regard Lin Bu as a high and out-of-the-way hermit.Only a very few people,based on literary and historical materials,combined with practical behavior to judge Lin’s person.The views of Huang Wan of the Ming Dynasty and Yu Yue of the late Qing Dynasty are quite convincing and have reference value.