An analysis of Han Yu’s values from his epitaphs = 從墓誌銘作品分析韓愈的價值觀

Abstract

Han Yu is widely regarded as one of the greatest Chinese prose writer in the Tang Dynasty. As Han Yu has played a very important role in advocating the movement of classic Chinese prose, which influenced many writers and helped Chinese literature development turned into a new page after Wen & Jin Dynasties. So, he is revered for his excellent writing named ‘Han Wen’ and significant contribution in Chinese literature development in his lifetime. He advocates three ideas: first, every prose should bring out a meaningful message and values. Second, giving a vivid description by creating new rhetoric style but not to copy from others. Third, make it clear and concise. Besides, Han Yu is a strict defender of Confucianism orthodoxy, he believes the thought and moral values of Confucianism, so he had spent his whole life to apply the above theories in his literature works, especially spreading the thought of Confucianism as inherits Confucianism and Chinese traditional culture. Han Yu gained many praises and reputations from his proses, and it has became one of the most important sources to reveal his values, including moral values, principle and attitudes of conducting with others and facing difficulties in life etc. In addition, Han Yu’s epitaph is representative since it has covered over 1/3 of his proses in total. This paper aims at revealing Han Yu’s different values mentioned above through his epitaphs.