The Analysis of Zou Tao's 《Jiao Chou Ji》

Summary The Ching Dynasty fiction Jiao Chou Ji, as Zou Tao’s accumulation of his early study, is the imitation of Liao Zhai Zhi Yi. Since there is little research about Jiao Chou Ji, this fiction leaves more possibilities for researchers. This paper, in order to know the author''s intention and re-criticize this fiction, attempts to analyze the main idea of texts by Thematic Study. We are going to find out how the author described his wish and his concern of society with narrative skills to express deep feelings. Therefore, we can present different interpretations in the previous research. This paper includes of five parts: I. The First Part: The first part is a review of previous studies, organizing scholars’ analysis of Jiao Chou Ji, and proposes the research motivation of this paper--That is, the relevance between Jiao Chou Ji and others fictions such as Liao Zhai Zhi Yi, The Dream of Red Chamber, and modern Chinese newspaper. II. The Second Part: This part presents the author Zou Tao’s unsteady and painful lifetime. His life can be divided into three sections. At first, he studied in Jiang-su Wu-xi, and then he leaves during wartime. In his early age, he has read The Dream of Red Chamber and loves it deeply since then. Meanwhile, he has known about Western science. After Jiao Chou Ji being published, he went to Shang-hai and became an editor of newspaper and was deeply influenced by the cultural atmosphere of Shang-hai. In his later years, he returned to his hometown and dedicated himself to education and culture career. The review of Zou Tao’s lifetime allows us to see the close connection between the fiction Jiao Chou Ji and Zou Tao’s early lifetime as a learner. III. The Third Part: 　　This chapter first analyzes the text connotation in order to carefully examine how Jiao Chou Ji inherits one of the theme of Liao Zhai Zhi Yi, that is, encouraging the virtuous and punishing the evil. The focuses of this chapter are on the themes of Ghosts and God, and the romance between men and unusual kinds of females. Finally, there is a discuss on the Jiang-su landscape rewritten by the author’s imagination in the text, which becomes his cultural memory towards his hometown Jiang-su. This chapter explores the author''s writing strategies to convey Confucianism ethics and educational thought combined with folk religious culture. IV. The Fourth Part: This chapter analyses a variety of female characters in the text--talented women, good daughters, loyal widows, famous courtesans, shrews and virtuous women. The author doesn’t care about their social status while focusing on capturing their personality traits--soulful heart, attention to justice, loyalty, both talented and virtuous. We can see ideal female image of Confucianism moral value in these characteristics. In addition, it reflects the women’s genuine feelings and autonomy in the romance and marriage plots in Ching Dynasty. In addition, the contrast between the behavior of shrews and virtuous women in the fiction shows Chinese literati’s ideal image of family and marriage. Through struggling traditional cultural pressures, the status of women raised. As a consequence, it proves the spirit of the subject and transforming among Jiao Chou Ji, Liao Zhai Zhi Yi and The Dream of Red Chamber. V. The Fifth Part: This part summarizes anachronistic topic of Jiao Chou Ji, which is related to daily life and personal experience to establish knowledge structure. Furthermore, this chapter also explores the similarity and connection between Jiao Chou Ji and modern Chinese newspapers. In conclusion, although Jiao Chou Ji is known as the imitation of Liao Zhai Zhi Yi, actually there exist the author’s original ideas and reflects values during that period. While Liao Zhai Zhi Yi was popular, Zou Tao rewrote the Ghost and God theme, romantic and marriage themes, and confidant love model of The Dream of Red Chamber to create this fiction. His ambition and the feeling of loss are conveyed in the fictional plots. In the imaginary literary space, he not only echoes with ancient literati’s common sorrow, but also with the contemporary common anger of that period. In this way, Zou Tao expresses the lyrical aspect and “Yan Zhi” aspect. He establishes a personal lifestyle and the concern towards society by means of composing Jiao Chou Ji. Therefore, this fiction becomes a fiction featuring a variety of styles, which is worthwhile researching among fictions in Ching Dynasty.