A Study of Tu Long’s Beliefs and Views on Life using Siou Wun Ji as the Core Material

Author: Chih-Li Lin(General Education Center, Oriental Institute of Technology)

Vol.&No.：Vol. 56, No. 2
Date：September 2011
Pages：95-120
DOI：10.3966/207451922011095602004

Abstract：

Siou Wun Ji (修文記) is a drama that demonstrates the core beliefs that Tu Long (屠隆) expressed in his later years. Tu Long not only used his personal experiences and those of his children as the subject matter of the drama, but he also included his attitudes toward religion and life. The main character in the drama, Meng Yao (蒙曜), represents Tu Long himself. Meng Yao Se (蒙瑤瑟) is his fi rstborn daughter Tu Yao Se (屠瑤瑟), and Meng Yu Shu (蒙玉樞) is his fi rstborn son, Tu Jin Shu (屠金樞). In the drama, Tu Long suggests that the outcome of his impeachment led to the removal of an official and to the death of his children at an early age, which is why these events are regarded as karma. Throughout the drama, Tu Long not only warns and admonishes people who do not believe in karma but also exerts people to cultivate and be liberated from sams?ra. Additionally, Tu Long proposed a method of cultivation that includes the Confucian principles of human relations, the physical immortality principles of Taoism, and one’s mind principles of Buddhism. The ultimate purpose of cultivating Confucianism and Taoism was to cultivate Buddhism, which would subsequently lead to nirvana. Only by doing so could one achieve eternal life.

Keywords：karma, religious opera, Ming drama, Siou Wun Ji, Tu Long

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