英文摘要 |
In his forties, Wen Tianxiang 文天祥 (1236-1282) faced death at sea numerous times while attempting to help the imperial court in exile re-establish the Southern Song dynasty. Unfortunately, he was eventually captured by Yuan soldiers and forced to witness the dynasty’s final demise on the cliffs above the sea. Thus, the ocean for him possesses a profound significance and is rich in cultural meaning in his poetry. This article explores the cultural connotations of his more than 140 maritime poems. Firstly, we analyze the inheritance and development of traditional views of the ocean as embodied in literary images as an isolating space, a place of wonderful mystical beauty, and an ideal world that transcends reality. Secondly, we explore how Wen Tianxiang’s personal experiences at sea and fierce dedication to serving his country led him to transform the traditional image of the ocean as a cradle of rebirth into a concrete hope for the restoration of the Southern Song dynasty, and to refocus the image of the seas as a field of destruction, imbuing it with the profound connotations of a killing field. In Wen Tianxiang’s concrete yet figurative written art, we perceive his affection on both a personal level (as a dedicated loyal servant of his country) and in the big picture (in elevating personal spite to loyal indignation). |