Historical context of Song Dynasty-The civilian rule:-Excessive supply of successful candidates:-Urbanization:-The historical crisis: The Northern power destroyed the Northern Song in1126-Fractions in power politics:-What had gone wrong?The Neo-Confucian School-Zhu Xi (1130-1200)-The True Way School”Scholars insist on “strict adherence to the classical Confucians principles alongwith their new elucidations and interpretations” (James Liu, 485)-The goal:?Complexity:-Clean the mainstream by throwing out what they believed to be non-Confucian elements.-The potential problems:a) They did not agree among themselves on what was non-Confucian.b) They were not free from non-Confucian influence.The Emphases-Stress the correct interpretation of the classics for statecraft applications (ibid.,488)-Inward-looking to examine himself and outward-looking to investigate the universe(ibid.,489)-The man as the decisive link between his personal world and the cosmos:Its claim to legitimacy-It claims the lineage of legitimate transmission of the Confucian orthodoxy(ibid.,500)-The disciplined self-cultivation would firm up individual commitment to themoral well-being-Only this school can give man and his society an integrated way of life withmeaning in everyday activities (ibid.,489)Tension with the Song State-The True Way School is “independent” from the state,” and it’s literati “claims theirinterpretations” as “what the orthodoxy should be” (ibid.,486)-The insecurity of power brokers leads them to regard this school as a potentialthreat (ibid., 486,508)-The Song state proscribes this school as the “False leaning”(1195-1202)Official Repression-The court denied Zhu Xi for his expected appointment (1188)-Ordered candidates to declare they had no connection with this school (1196)-The court issued a list of 59 leaders (1197):-Zhu Xi was stripped of his official position:-He passed away in 1200The reversal -The court granted honors to Zhu Xi in 1208:-Zhu’s commentaries on the Analects and Mencius were adopted by the court:-The military threats from the North:-The Now-Confucian school became the state orthodoxy in 1241 under adifferent name: The School of Principle:Song Lyric-The primary features-The verses of uneven length with certain rhythm-Rooted in the popular culture-Two major styles:“Heroic mode” 豪豪:bold and extravagant“Subtle mode” 豪豪 delicate sensibilitySu shi(1036-1101)-The man:--Ranked the second place out of hundreds of candidates (1057)-Recommended in a special examination in 1061-Wrote series to?The Red Cliff“Charming Nien-nu”-Introduction of the historical site leads the poet to think of the legendaryfigures (L.1-6)-The sight, sound and color remind him of the heroes in the Three Kingdom (L.7-11)-Massive troops turn into ashes, while generals chat and laugh (L.15-17)-You (?the reader laugh at this sentimental me…) let me offer a toast to theMoon”(L.19-22)Li Qingzhao (1084-1151)-Born in a scholar-official family -Married with a scholar-official -Left the town after Northern powers pushed south-Lived alone after her husband died (1129)-Lotery“Sheng-Sheng-man”-The unusual opening:7 pairs of repeated words:“Searching searching, seeking seeking… listless listless”(L 1-3)-How to resist the powerful wind?-How to bear the darkness lone?-How to sum up this condition with a word of “sorrow”--The lyric gives emotive details of her listless state.--Her personal blem is not spelled out, yet every image points to her
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