A Research on The Free and Unrestrained Phenomenon in Shih-shuo Hsin-yu

• Main Authors: CHEW CHAI YI, 周采怡
• Other Authors: 陳慶元
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2018
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/94exf3

碩士 === 東海大學 === 中國文學系 === 106 === The demeanour of not confining oneself to ethics, drinking, undressed as well as to strive for freedom is a common phenomenon in Wei-Jin dynasty. It is also a unique feature that only belong to Wei-Jin dynasty. This phenomenon is known as “free and unrestrained”. The term “free and unrestrained” is first found in Shih-shuo Hsin-yu. There are 54 articles under the title of “free and unrestrained”, describing the deeds where people in Wei-Jin dynasty disobeyed etiquette, indulged in sensual pleasure or acted spontaneously. The “free and unrestrained” phenomenon was not formed in a sudden. Although there were scenarios where people are against Confucianism prior to that, it was unlike the situation in Wei-Jin dynasty where almost all of the people respected and followed the “free and unrestrained” phenomenon. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the decline of Confucianism led to arose of self awareness among people. People were self-centered, emphasized on personal talent, appearance and so on. In order to get higher recognition, they flaunted themselves by acting differently. This trend was continued until Wei-Jin dynasty, and it caused the “free and unrestrained” phenomenon to flourish. The acts of “free and unrestrained” pheneomenon, which include drinking, undressed, not restricted to ethics, were actually leaded by the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. The violation of ritual which was done by Ruan-ji, such as drinking and eating in mourning was followed by many people. In fact, the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove actually did it on purpose, with the ultimate motive is that to against the rules set by Sima. However, the resistance consciousness has gradually disappeared, and merely became an act of imitation in the end. After that, the subjugation of the Western Jin Dynasty led the people started contemplating the disadvantages of indulgence, hence they started to seek for the unrestrained demeanour. There must be close relationship among the act of “free and unrestrained”, and the background, thoughts of the people in Wei-Jin dynasty. From the perspective of psychology, the “free and unrestrained” action is a kind of abnormal behavior. Psychologists usually analyze the causes of abnormal behavior in many ways, including mentality, social and so on. Therefore, in addition to the analysis of the “free and unrestrained” phenomenon, this paper will have a further study from the perspective of psychology in order to know the reasons and the implication behind it. It is hoped that this research is able to sort out and generalize the unique culture of the Wei-Jin dynasty, so as to allow the world to understand the true meaning of “free and unrestrained”.