Wei and Jin Dynasties personal concept of name

• Main Authors: Yu-FangChen, 陳玉芳
• Other Authors: Jian-Jun Jiang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/80049315279254133714

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 中國文學系碩博士班 === 100 === The concepts of “physicality” and “fame” diverge in Confucianism and Tao. In regard to “fame,” Confucianism embraces the rightness of fame, while Tao adopts the non-fame perspective. As for “physicality,” Confucianism believes in sacrifice for righteousness; Tao, however, values physical being. By looking into the pursuit of immortality and fame in Wei and Jin Dynasties, this study aims to see how ancient Chinese intellectuals tried to incorporate these seemingly contradictory concepts in Confucianism and Tao. Living in Wei and Jin Dynasties, when the country divided and united from time to time, intellectuals with “physicality” and ‘fame” in mind faced the dilemma of righteousness and survival. The threat of death forced the intellectuals to think about ways to stay immortal. After some unsuccessful attempts to become physically immortal with supernatural power, they began to seek ways of spiritual immortality. As a consequence, the intellectuals accepted the fact that people would die eventually and pursued instead the “three immortalities,” which are the virtue, the merit, and the words. They ensured that their names would live after they died with solid materials, such as tombstone writing, literature works, and art works. That was the pursuit of “the prosperity of fame.” On the other hand, the intellectuals also began to pursue a higher living quality after they became well-off. Some of them led a luxurious life, and the others sought to lead an artistic life, which showed their emphasis on the spiritual life. Both the living quality and life quality for the intellectuals were outstanding at that time. That was the achievement of “the prosperity of physicality.” However, as they pursued the prosperity of both fame and physicality, the intellectuals abandoned their responsibilities and values taught in Confucianism and also ignored the Tao guidelines about peacefulness and less desire. Consequently, they benefited only themselves, instead of the country or the people. This study investigates how the intellectuals in Wei and Jin Dynasties dealt with the pursuit of both fame and physicality, which reflected the social and psychological conditions back at that time.