Yang Kuan’s research on Chinese myth

• Main Authors: Huey-yu Jaw, 趙惠瑜
• Other Authors: Yi-lu Lu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/91988732008933215567

碩士 === 東吳大學 === 中國文學系 === 97 === This study discuss from the relationship of academic between Yang Kuan and the debate of ancient history to the feature and the contribution of Yang Kuan’s research on Chinese myth. The major as following: First, the change of the debate of ancient history was through the process, which from Hu Shi’s experimentalism to Qian Xuantong and Gu Jiegang’s school of Jinwen; Qian Xuantong and Gu Jiegang’s classical studies to Fu Sinian’s historical studies; Fu Sinian’s historical studies to Yang Kuan’s research on Chinese myth. Yang Kuan’s concept of “the myth of east and west’s national respectively evolution and mix” with strong spirit of questioned ancient history, and multi-concept approach to verify, and step by step evolution of the concept from myth to legend, and the concept of national history, and the attempt of historical studies by myth, and the contribution of constructed the mythical system. Yang Kuan is an important person to combin with the various stages of the debate of ancient history. Second, in Yang Kuan’s opinion, national of ancient china had two major systems of shang-dongyi and zhou-xi rong. The different myth of east and west were derived from different national concept and religion concept. According to Yang Kuan’s research, the original myth of shang–dongyi had six gods─each manage of sky, land, spring, fire, penalty, river; the original myth of zhou-xi rong had five gods─each manage of sky, land, agriculture, mountain, fire. The ancient history before Xia was derived from evolution and mix by different myth of east and west in shang-zhou dynasty. Yang Kuan figure out the main reasons of myth change into ancient history are derived from public awareness and requirement of social and political. Third, Yang Kuan’s research on Chinese myth incorporates advantage of all subjects. He used font, pronunciation and meaning of words of ancient literature to construct the system of mythical figures by methods of linguistics and scholium. In addition, he used research achievements of anthropology, archeology, and Toyo literature to debate and proved the mythical figures and mythical system of Chinese myth. It’s successful Yang Kuan used concepts and methods of classical studies, history, archeology, folklore into mythical research. Although the mythical system constructed by Yang Kuan is not perfect, but it was rare in his contemporaries, who used concept of mythology treat of Chinese ancient history even if Yang Kuan is a historians. No matter on concepts or methods, Yang Kuan’s research on Chinese myth comprehensive and systematic discuss, construct, and restore original Chinese myth is better than researchers of his contemporaries.