Chapter two Chinese Historical Tales Myths Fables and
Chapter two: Chinese Historical Tales, Myths, Fables and legends
Compeliments to Cao Zhi • 学富五车,才高八斗His has so many books which can be filled with five carriages, and he gets 8 Dous of literary talent, if there are 10 Dous in the world. • 才过子健,貌比潘安An excellent man‘s talent should be able to more than Cao Zhi’S, and his appearance should be compared with Pan An’S. • 宓妃愁坐芝田馆, 用尽陈王八斗才。It is said that Cao Pi was not only jealous of Cao Zhi’S great talents and Cao ’S favor, but also Cao Zhi’S sincere love for Cao Pi ’S wife , Zhen Luo.
Myths: When the Eight Genii crossed the Sea, Each of Them Displayed His or Her Prowess
Eight Genii: Zhang Guolao〔old〕Lan Caihe〔young〕Han Zhongli〔poor 〕Cao Guojiu〔noble 〕Han Xiangzi〔rich〕 Li Tieguai〔mean〕Lv Dongbin〔male〕He Xiangu〔female〕 ——all classes of people. Magic weapons: drum 〔Zhang〕flowers basket〔Lan〕Palmleaf fan 〔Han〕hardwood clappers 〔Cao〕bamboo flute 〔Han〕gourd〔Li〕Sword〔Lv〕Lotus〔He〕——the secert Eight Genii Other Eight Genii: Eight Genii of Wine Huainan Eight Genii in Shu Eight Genii in
Fables: Dong shi , an ugly woman , knitting her brows in imitation of the famous beauty , xi shi, only to make herself all the uglier.
Xi Shi’S Life 朝为越溪女,暮作吴宫妃 : Xi Shi ’S peerless beauty made her famous so that she was sent to the Wu country as one of the gifts. 梦向夫差苑里游, 宫娥拥入君王起: after she became Fu Chai’ s beloved wife, she lived a very comfortable but risky life. 家国兴亡自有时, 吴人何苦怨西施: the Wu people could not attribute the demise of their county to Xi Shi, for The destruction of the Wu country was inevitable. 效颦莫笑东村女,头白溪边尚浣纱 : in fact , it was Shi’S beauty made her life miserable. Xi
Folklores: Dongyong and the Seventh Fairy
Some places about the legend Xiao Gan in Hubei province〔湖北孝感〕: the origin place. Dong Yong sold himself to the rich person as a long-term employee in order to get money for buring his father, which moved the Seventh Fairy. An Qing in An Hui province: The Huangmei Opera《天 仙配》 Moutain Tianzhu: TV Series《天仙配》
• The most classical love in The West Chamber • The most fantastic love in Penoy Pavallion • The most bittersweet love in A Dream of Red Mansions
The West Chamber, the full name of which is “Cui Yingying ’s romance at the West Chamber” is regarded as an immortal work on love and romance. Through the love story of Cui Yingying and Zhang Sheng about their daring resistance to the feudal etiquettes in their pursuit for love and their happy ending, the drama expresses its anti-feudalist theme, and exhibits the progressive idea of “letting all those in love be finally joined in perfect union. ”
Farewell at a Pavilion: The sky is blue, yellow flowers cover the ground; In the west wind the wild swans fly southbound; What dyed the frosted forest red at dawn? In the leaving man's tears the trees drown.
Classical typecast mode: The two first meet in a Buddhist monastery, and Zhang Sheng falls in love with Yingying immediately They get together in a secret union after Yingying’s mother breaks her promise Zhang Sheng passes the imperial examination and is appointed to high office. The two are fianlly married. .
Peony Pavilion, also entitled Annuals of Revival, is generally recognized as an outstanding romantic tragiccomedy in the history of Chinese theater and landmark work. It depicts the love story of Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei and especially reflects Du’s immensely strong desire for free courtship and entire liberation of individuality. The author condemns the feudal etiquettes and stresses the power of love so as to indicate the ideology of “using sensibity against sense”.
An Amazing Dream in the Garden: The flowers glitter brightly in the air, Around the wells and walls deserted here and there. Where is the “pleasant day and pretty sight” Who can enjoy “ delight and contentment”
Returning to life : True love cannot develop form an encounter dream, so Du Liniang risked her life in pursuit of ture love form the human world to the under world. Du Liniang conceives a dream for love, dies for her dream lover, moves the Infernal Judgy by her love, revives for love and defends her love when she is revived.
A Dream of Red Mansions A dream of Red Mansions is the peak of ancient Chinese fiction. With the love tragedy of Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu as its central thread, the book charts the course of prosperity and decline of an aristocratic family. It is an account of the burgeoning of a trend toward pursuit of personal freedom and opposition to the feudal system as the feudal period was entering its closing phase.
Burying fallen flowers: As blossoms fade and fly across the sky, who pites for the faded red , the scent that has been? Each year for three hundred and sixty days, the cutting wind and biting forst contend. For pure you came and pure shall go, not sinking into some foul ditch or mire. The day that spring takes wing and beauty fades, who will care for the fallen blossom or dead maid?
The spirit of love: The early period of theiy love has a childish naivete , but as they become more aware of their feelings their love ripens. The foundation of their love Is their mutual opposition to feudal thinking, their love represents a foundation challenge to the interest of feudal family. So the bounds of feudal oppression strangle their love.
The Legend of White Snake (The Legend of White Wife)
• This is a love story about a man and a white snake. The first short tale was found during the Tang Dynasty (618 AD). That is about a cautionary, vigilant and tragic story of a man in love with a lady in white. The scenes of West Lake and Thunder Pagoda were added and the central theme was established during the Song Dynasty (960 AD). The entire story was completed during the Ming Dynasty (1368 AD). It was rewritten to beautify characters in some episodes in Ching Dynasty (1644 AD).
The symbol of snakes in China & Western countries • Generally the dragon, in the Orient, is a beneficent, celestial power while, in the Occident, it becomes destructive and evil.
• The Chinese dragon is traditionally the embodiment of the concept of yang (male) and associated with the weather as the bringer of rain and water in an agriculturally water-driven nation. Its female counterpart is the Fenghuang.
• The dragon is the symbol of reputation, power, force, luck, happiness and long life in Chinese culture. There are dragons with seven or nine heads in Chinese mythology. Thus, Chinese emperors have seven or nine dragons’ symbols on their clothes regarding to their rank. The emperor has nine dragons and the vice emperor has seven.
Gou Jian Slept on Firewood and Tasted Gall to Avenge a National Humiliation
Yue’s King Gou Jian
This Historical Tale … Battle of Zuì Lǐ (槜李之战), Yue defeated Wu Yue was defeated three years later by a resurgent Wu, and Goujian captured, to serve as Fuchai's servant for three years
This Historical Tale … Upon resuming his rule King Goujian quickly appointed skilled politicians as advisors, such as Wen Zhong and Fan Li, to help build up the kingdom. During this time, his ministers also worked to weaken the State of Wu internally through bribes and diplomatic intrigue.
This Historical Tale … Slept on sticks and eating food suited for peasants. Force himself to taste gall. Ten years of economic and political reforms
This Historical Tale … Ten years of reforms; the state is rich, the warriors well-rewarded. The soldiers charge in the face of arrows like thirsty men heading for drink. . . -----Shiji
This Historical Tale … Making use of Fuchai's expedition to struggle with Jin for hegemony Goujian led his army and successfully attacked the Wu capital. 473 BC, Goujian led another expedition, Wu surrendered, Fuchai committed suicide, Wu was annexed by Yue.
What Can We Learn ? A man among men is he who knows when to eat humble pie and when to hold his head . 大丈夫能屈能伸 To conquer the rigid with the gentle. 以柔弱 胜刚强。 To gain advantages by making concessions. 以退为进
What Can We Learn ? A just cause enjoys abundant support while an unjust cause finds little. 得道多助,失道 寡助。 There is no such thing as a great talent without great will - power. -- Balzac 没有 伟大的意志力,便没有雄才大略。 -- 巴尔 扎克
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