In the Dumghuang literature there were works of folk literature, which contains scripts for (storytelling). Two of them, entitled Lushan Yuangong Hua (Stories of Yuangong in Mt. Lu and Ye Jingneng Shi (Stories of Ye J...In the Dumghuang literature there were works of folk literature, which contains scripts for (storytelling). Two of them, entitled Lushan Yuangong Hua (Stories of Yuangong in Mt. Lu and Ye Jingneng Shi (Stories of Ye Jingneng) are scripts of religious literature. Buddhist and Taoist disciples disseminated their own religions and religious figures by making use of storytelling, a popular artistic form. Lushan Yuanggong Hua is about Huiyuan, a famous Buddhist monk in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420). It is characterized by mixing fiction with real life of the main character. However, most stories in this book are fiction. As a form of literature, it is necessary to make up stories. To disseminate Buddhism, the book also (contains) a lot of (sermons) of Buddhist doctrines in addition to made-up stories about Yuangong. The sermons make up two fifths of the whole book. What is marvelous is that the reader does not feel tedious while reading the book (because) Buddhist doctrines are well explained through story telling. So as an early script for story telling, it has the (basic) (artistry) of scripts for story telling popular in the Song and the Yuan Dynasties. In reading the book, the reader feels that there is always a teller who tells you stories and these stories are told in the colloquial language of the times. The story always begins with poems in praise of Buddhism and ends with a poem too. So it has the basic form of scripts for story telling that became popular later as a form of folk literature. The book of Ye Jingneng Shitells the stories about Ye Jingneng, a famous Taoist monk in the Tang (Dynasty). If Lushan Yuangong Hua serves the purpose of disseminating Buddhism,Ye Jingneng Shiserves the purpose of disseminating Taoism.Ye Jingneng was a true figure, a Taoist who was active during the reign of Emperor Gaozong (649-683) and the reign of Emperor Zhongzong (684-709) in the Tang Dynasty. But the stories of Ye Jingeng were set during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong (713-755). Moreover, stories about some other famous Taoists in the early Tang Dynasty were brought together and integrated into Ye Jingneng to eulogize Ye’s unique magic power. WhileLushan Yuangong Hua is more seriously told, Ye Jingneng Shi is told in a more lively way.While in the former more emphasis is placed on the dissemination of Buddhist religious doctrines, while in the latteron pleasure in reading as well as on the dissemination of Taoist doctrines, which is done in a more interesting way. The storytelling script of Ye Jingneng Shi has three characteristics:1) the stories are told in the spoken language of the time; 2)the beginning of the script is missing, but the end is a memorial speech delivered by Emperor Xuanzong to Ye Jingneng, which is written in verse; and 3) the literary form of fiction is employed by bringing stories of other Taoists together and integrating them into Ye.展开更多
文摘In the Dumghuang literature there were works of folk literature, which contains scripts for (storytelling). Two of them, entitled Lushan Yuangong Hua (Stories of Yuangong in Mt. Lu and Ye Jingneng Shi (Stories of Ye Jingneng) are scripts of religious literature. Buddhist and Taoist disciples disseminated their own religions and religious figures by making use of storytelling, a popular artistic form. Lushan Yuanggong Hua is about Huiyuan, a famous Buddhist monk in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420). It is characterized by mixing fiction with real life of the main character. However, most stories in this book are fiction. As a form of literature, it is necessary to make up stories. To disseminate Buddhism, the book also (contains) a lot of (sermons) of Buddhist doctrines in addition to made-up stories about Yuangong. The sermons make up two fifths of the whole book. What is marvelous is that the reader does not feel tedious while reading the book (because) Buddhist doctrines are well explained through story telling. So as an early script for story telling, it has the (basic) (artistry) of scripts for story telling popular in the Song and the Yuan Dynasties. In reading the book, the reader feels that there is always a teller who tells you stories and these stories are told in the colloquial language of the times. The story always begins with poems in praise of Buddhism and ends with a poem too. So it has the basic form of scripts for story telling that became popular later as a form of folk literature. The book of Ye Jingneng Shitells the stories about Ye Jingneng, a famous Taoist monk in the Tang (Dynasty). If Lushan Yuangong Hua serves the purpose of disseminating Buddhism,Ye Jingneng Shiserves the purpose of disseminating Taoism.Ye Jingneng was a true figure, a Taoist who was active during the reign of Emperor Gaozong (649-683) and the reign of Emperor Zhongzong (684-709) in the Tang Dynasty. But the stories of Ye Jingeng were set during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong (713-755). Moreover, stories about some other famous Taoists in the early Tang Dynasty were brought together and integrated into Ye Jingneng to eulogize Ye’s unique magic power. WhileLushan Yuangong Hua is more seriously told, Ye Jingneng Shi is told in a more lively way.While in the former more emphasis is placed on the dissemination of Buddhist religious doctrines, while in the latteron pleasure in reading as well as on the dissemination of Taoist doctrines, which is done in a more interesting way. The storytelling script of Ye Jingneng Shi has three characteristics:1) the stories are told in the spoken language of the time; 2)the beginning of the script is missing, but the end is a memorial speech delivered by Emperor Xuanzong to Ye Jingneng, which is written in verse; and 3) the literary form of fiction is employed by bringing stories of other Taoists together and integrating them into Ye.
