Cultural Aesthetics Research on the Legend of Confucius

Author: Chen Jinwen
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-05-01
Features: The legend of Confucius belongs to a special category in Chinese folk character legends, having beened in the for a long time and recorded in literature and notes by scholars across generations. The records originate from folk legends, and legends are the matrix of recorded history. Faced with this long-standing and vast group of legends, choosing a topic for a treatise is highly challenging. Dr. Jinwen has the courage to select such a subject, which undoubtedly demonstrates extraordinary academic bravery. This topic holds considerable theoretical value. The evaluation and study of the great Chinese culture figure Confucius have been extensive since ancient times. However, most of these works compare and analyze Confucius from the perspective of elite culture. In contrast, examining Confucius' legends from the standpoint of grassroots culture and provides a clear picture and strong evidence of how the understands Confucius and his doctrines, as well as the real impact of Confucianism on the. This also opens a new path for studying the direction of Neo-Confucianism in today's modernization process, thus holding significant practical implications for advancing the spiritual civilization construction of modern China.
At the same time, this monograph presents an innovative approach in research methodology. Confucius legends fall under the categories of folklore and literature, involving both historical records and contemporary legends. Jinwen, grounded in modern legends, combines literature review and field research, applying the theory and methods of folktale type studies to the research of legends. He categorizes Confucius legends into eight themes and fifty plot types. Whether this classification is correct or not, it allows readers to gain a clearer and more precise understanding of the history and current state of Confucius legends. China is not only a major country in folktales but also a major country in legends. In the past, some scholars advocated using the method of a "matrix index" to classify and study Chinese legends, but no one has ever put it into practice. Jinwen has made bold attempts in this regard. Additionally, this monograph employs Zhong Jingwen's cultural stratification theory to structure the entire work. Grounded in grassroots culture, it reflects on middle and elite cultures, analyzing the historical value and cultural connotations of Confucius legends from the perspective of mutual influence among the three layers of culture. It explores the interaction between these layers, demonstrating strong logic, rigorous structure, and a cohesive overall flow, offering readers a fresh and innovative perspective.
Of course, Confucian thought is profound and extensive, and the legends surrounding Confucius are rich and complex. As mentioned at the beginning, the topic of this book is highly challenging to research, so it is inevitable that there may be shortcomings. The author himself acknowledges that some parts of the book are not entirely satisfactory. As the saying goes, "a minor flaw does not obscure the brilliance." Jinwen's monograph is no exception. It is believed that minor shortcomings will not diminish its overall value, and readers will undoubtedly gain much inspiration from it.
In summary, this is an excellent work that provides significant academic reference value for related research in folklore, history, and cultural studies. At the same time, its publication will undoubtedly add another gem to the field of Confucius studies. Confucius has long been favored by ruling elites, and the Confucian culture he founded has dominated the ideological sphere for over two millennia. Through gradual assimilation over two thousand years, a considerable portion of his thought and doctrines have become ingrained in the moral consciousness, spiritual life, and traditional customs of the Chinese nation, shaping a distinct Chinese social and family culture that differs from Western societies. Therefore, the topic of Confucius and society, or Confucius and folklore culture, can be considered a subject worthy of in-depth discussion. To fully and profoundly reveal the relationship between Confucian culture, centered on Confucius, and folklore is far from the scope of a single book. The issues and content it encompasses are both profound and extensive.