"SAN-KUO-CHIH YEN-I" AND "SHUI-HU CHUAN" IN THE CONTEXT OF HISTORIOGRAPHY: AN INTERPRETIVE STUDY

• Main Author: LO, ANDREW HING-BUN
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-1981
• Subjects: Asian literature
• ISBN: 9798662014466

This thesis traces the relationship between San-kuo-chih yen-i, Shui-hu chuan, and historiography in terms of intent; and in particular, the issue of passing judgment according to i (moral principle). In chapter one, we consider San-kuo-chih yen-i and historiography. We begin with a brief review of the various treatments of the San-kuo story and argue for a closer comparison between the novel and historiography, and in particular, between the Mao Tsung-kang edition of the novel and Chu Hsi's Tzu-chih t'ung-chien kang-mu. While Chu Hsi passes judgment through a precise choice of vocabulary, the novelist prefers not to state his judgments explicitly, but rather, to question the moral principles upon which the historian bases his judgment. This questioning of the meaning of i and its various ramifications is achieved through various narrative techniques and through reference to the founding of the Han Dynasty. To substantiate this argument, we draw upon writings from traditional fiction critics and historians, and end with a study of occurrences of compounds of the word i in the novel and a proposal for an interpretation of the meaning of the term yen-i in the title. In chapter two, we argue for the role of historiography in shaping the compilation of Shui-hu chuan by looking at the influence of certain structures and themes in Shih-chi and Han-shu. We maintain that the novel is structured around an attempt to define the meaning of i, as is the case in San-kuo-chih yen-i. This is substantiated through an analysis of scenes labelled as chu-i (gathering for a righteous cause), and an analysis of major historical references in the novel. In chapter three, we propose a comparative reading of the two novels by seeing them in the context of the issues of the yu-hsia (knight-errant) and factionalism. In chapter four, we continue the argument for a compatible vision of the two novels through a sampling of the traditional reading audience, and a formal investigation of a combined edition of the two novels, Ying-hsiung p'u. What emerges from this compatibility is that the playing out of various ramifications of i could take on a double edge for both works. We conclude with a reconsideration of the historical novel and an attempt to define the vision of the historical novelist. As an afterword, we propose a possible solution to the dating of our two novels.