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by Cheung, Kai-pui

(Uncorrected OCR) Abstract of a thesis entitled "Fung Yen-ssu(903-960 A.D.):a study of the

man and his tz 'u" ;~ J! ~ A ~ jij Ul- ~

submitted by QlelULg Kai-pui

for the degree of Haster of T'hilosophy at the University of Hong Kong in

August,1979.

Fung Yen-ssu ,~ l!. e.., , (903-960 A.D.) is the prime minister of South

T'ang and a famous tz'u poet of Five Dynasties. The style of his tz'u are

clear and lucid, sometimes sarlly moving. ITe is goo(l at using metaphores in

his tz 'u to sho'" hi s great a.mbi tion. This' casts great influence on the future

generations. However,in times cone by,historians tend to discredit the

integrity of Yen-ssu's personality. This is because they are affected by

a book called "Diao Ji Li Tan 1-3ttjL~l ",compiled by Yen-sBu's political enemies. As a result,Yen-ssu"s anthology "Yang Chun Shi ~'.\.-i- "is

kept unlmown for :nearly a thousanrl year. The first chapter of this thesis is

a systematic analysis of Yen-ssu's life, and an enumeration of historical

facts to prove that Yen-ssu is not a flattering courtier as the critics have

condemned.

'?en South T'ang comes to an cnd, Yen-ssu's works scatter and disa~pear

under the reign of Slmg Dynasty. No one collects and collates his tz'u tUttil 1058 A.D. Chan Shi-shiu ~i ~ i~ compiles the anthology "Yang ChlID Shift,

Th~collection does not include the complete ,,,"orks of Yen-ssu, and some of

the tz'u are ,yorks of others. The second chapter of this thesis is a thorough

stUlly on the 'fories in the anthology.

The rest of the thesis concent.rates on the attain.:"11cnts Yen-ssu has gained

in the history of literature. The t.hird chni:ter is to analyse the style of

tz 'u in late Tt an!j ann Five Dynasties, and to point out the effort Yen-s:,;u

has mnrle in carrying on the pnst hc:d tfl,Q;e an ,1 opening up the future. '!'he

fourth and the fifth charters arc a discussion on the artistic conccl'tion of Yen-ssul s tz 'u, his style, diction and 1vritinr.; technique. Finally, thp. sixth chapter is an cXI'osi tion on the influencp that Ycn-ssu cast.s on the coning tz IU poets, o.n'l thus verify his 0.xtraordinary achil'verncnt in +.]1(' history of

literature.

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