略论“三言二拍”中文人形象的衰落

Abstract

In the Chinese ancient traditional concept, the images of literati, who were represented by “Shi”, the highest rank in the “Shi” “Nong” “Gong” “Shang”, not only contained ideal sentiment of “concerning the world” and “being righteous alone”, but also reflected the mental shackles of elegance and common in nothing. However, the idealization of the figures of literati was in declining with the development. Especially after the Ming Dynasty, the commodity economy almost totally overturned the social value concept and the civil behavior. On such social background, the literati figures created in “Sanyan” and ”Erpai”, compared with the figures of the traditional literati, also declined very much. Firstly, many literati gave Confucians and pursued merchants under the pressure of surroundings and survival. Though there was no ground to blame in morality, it brought disgrace on the intellectuals in traditional value concept anyhow. Secondly, the literati, under the pressure of competition in the imperial examinations, were engaged in bribe and cheating for passing the examinations, purchasing official positions, and even relying on accidental luck such as coming across the emperor or assistance from ghosts to win official positions. Such actions indicated the literati figures were declining in morality. Thirdly, the literati figures, with so much cheating, tactful, calculating and treachery in their behavior, were in total declination in both morality and value concepts.