| Abstract |
Synopsis: Fishers and woodcutters are two of ordinary people, and gulls and egrets are two kinds of ordinary water fowls. Yet Chinese literatis had transformed these common objects into another symbols conceiving specific meaning. And this is the subject that I would explore in this thesis. I would focus on the lyrics of Yuan Dynasty, and describe them in four sections. First, I would explain the historical background where fishers, wood cutters, gulls and egrets had been described in the ancient books. Second, I would introduce some historical people who had been fishers or woodcutters. Those were ancient sages such sas Yu Shun, Chiang Tzu-ya, Chu Mai-chen, and Yen Tzu-ling. And I would state their annecdota as kept in historical literatures. Third , Iwould illustrate some philosophic writings such as "Chuang Tzu", in which the author atated his thought of admiring nature and innocence from a fisher’s point. There are other literary works such as "Chu Tzu" (Collection of poems) in which the author also expressed his feeling by means of a fisher. Then I would discuss the image of fisher and woodcutter, who are portrayed in many proses, poetry, verses (as well as novels and operas in later age) and the intimate friend ship between human being and those water birds. Such image had composed an Utopia that most Chinese literatis were longing for. Forth, I would explore the special background in Yuan Dynasty when the nationalism culture, politics and society of Chinese people were suppressed by Mongolians. That was also the reason why so many ltric writers in that age praising fishers, woodcutters, gulls and egrets as a symbol of hermit’s life. I have also quoted from those lyrics of Yuan Dynasty to analyze their thems as follow: 1.To enjoy a free and careless life as immortals； 2.To sing fisher and woodcutter’s songs joyously； 3.Not to care about right or wrong, wise or stupid； 4.To chat about all sorts of subjects with fishers and woodcutters； 5.To be in harmony with nature so that gulls and egrets can be intimate friends. Keyword:Fisher, woodcutter, gulls and egrets, Fisher, Woodcutter, Gulls and egrets as the intimate friends of human beings, To enjoy a free and careless life, to sing fisher and woodcutter’s songs, Right or wrong, wise or stupid, Tochat all sorts of subjects, To be intimate and without any intention. |
