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This dissertation explores the thoughts and values presented in Tao Yuan-Ming’s(A.D.365-427) poetry and prose. To analyze Tao’s work , his life story is introduced in the first part of this study, including family background, language context of the time,and government service and reclusion. Besides, the display of the writer’s four writing phases through his life time, which are ”pursuing official job,” ”resigning official job,” “living in retirement,” and “rediscovering his true self,” lead us to know Tao in each phase.
What’s more, the study discusses Tao’s major decision made in his middle age:he resigned and went home as well as the spirit and meaning of this choice. This has much resemblance to the Western concept of “LOHAS.” Therefore, in the latter part of this thesis, Tao’s poetry is explored through the perspective of LOHAS, especially his Fields and Gardens poetry which leads to the conclusion that these two idea are similar in: “Living in accordance with nature,” “Having passion for life,” and “Going back to innate essence.” Furthermore, the influences of Tao on contemporary times are explored from four aspects: Storytelling expert, Display of Everyday Aesthetics,Home is the root of life, and Discovering true self from the inside out. This study concludes that whether to proceed or to retreat, the poet still stays true to himself,keeps to his primitive simplicity, finds him contented and realized the wisdom of life for better or for worse through the course of the seasons. |