The Study on the Physiques and Spirit of the Cranky Scholars in the Wei and Chin Dynasties: Focused on “Shih-Shuo Hsin-Yu”

• Main Authors: Wei-Chen Wang, 王薇甄
• Other Authors: Sian-Zong Gong
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/82642384813317347074

碩士 === 國立中山大學 === 中國文學系研究所 === 100 === Wei and Chin Dynasties had been viewed as the most chaotic period characterized by changeable political situations, continuous wars, and difficult lives. In this period, the decline of classical studies and popularity of Daoism and Buddhism studies contributed to a very active world of ideas. Living in such a special time, scholars in Wei and Chin Dynasties could thus liberated their spirits, owned freedom of thoughts and beliefs, acted freely, and created arts with enthusiasm. In addition, they concretely built up a kind of distinguished and unique beauty of arts. This kind of special craze for the beauty of countenance and deportment as well as the beauty of inner verve not only shows certain historical characteristics and aesthetic perspectives during those periods, but also serves as a very important part of Chinese cultural history, and is therefore worth further investigations. This thesis looks deeply into Shih-Shuo Hsin-Yu, which vividly portrayed behaviors and appearances of famous scholars in Wei and Chin Dynasties. Based on literary documents talking about the real significance of “famous scholars” in Wei and Chin Dynasties, this thesis concludes certain primary elements of being a famous scholar, which are “superior knowledge,” “unique personality,” “ strict morality and magnanimity,” “affections with wisdom,” “free spirits,” and “delicate appearance and behavior.” Also, famous scholars in Wei and Chin Dynasties can be divided into several types, which are “free-spirit,” “talkative,” “physical and mental beauty,” “encyclopedic,” and “virtuous.” What’s more, there are four attributes that can present the beauty of outward semblance, namely “tall and slim,” “beautiful face,” “elegant expressions and delicate behaviors,” and “fashionable clothes.” Last, in order to highlight the inner verve and noble spirits of those famous scholars in Wei and Chin Dynasties, they put emphasis on the aesthetic of “portraying the inner verve from the semblance,” and “observing the semblance to grasp the inner verve.” Even though famous scholars pursued physical beauty, they did not judge people from their appearance. Instead, they stressed the inner beauty of spirits which reflected from delicate semblance and behaviors. Therefore, anyone who “acted without vulgarity,” “owned handsome appearance and good shape,” “ stood out above the rest,” “possessed wisdom and generosity,” “maintained cleanness and brightness,” and “made resolute decisions” could be categorized as a famous scholar. Even a person who had “ugly appearance but fine verve” could also be a famous scholar. As a result, throughout the study on the physical beauty and spiritual beauty of the famous scholars in Wei and Chin Dynasties, this thesis not only displays the countenance, inner spirits as well as the true significance behind the seemingly superficial quest for beauty of the famous scholars in Wei and Chin Dynasties, but also clearly represents the historical characteristics and aesthetic trends by examining the way how the famous scholars in Wei and Chin Dynasties established the beauty of outer appearance and inner verve.