악비와 문천상 小傳

Abstract

In the time-honored Chinese history of dynasties that have had a lot of faithful retainers and ardent patriots, nobody would deny that Yue Fei(岳飛) and Wen Tian-Xiang(文天祥) are the best national heroes and their historical achievement have been consistently commemorating until now. This essay deals with these two figures’s journey thorough life with the context of the Southern Song dynasty’s history when they were situated in. Yue Fei had spent his pinnacle of life at the very start point of Southern Song dynasty while Wen Tian-Xiang did the opposite – the final scene of the dynasty, therefore another effect of making a general survey of Southern Song dynasty’s history are also obtained when we trace two person’s footsteps and especially Southern Song dynasty’s international circumstances that are very important facts determining Song dynasty’s directions. Follow are some facts we can point out when Yue Fei and Wen Tian-Xiang are compared to each other. Firstly, they were influenced by the confucian culture and became to be a distinguished paragon that Confucianism need. Secondly, they tried to be loyal and patriotic and devote themselves to theirs country. Thirdly, they were bilious temperament and staunch with moral integrity. Fourthly, Wen Tian-Xiang died from national calamity caused by foreign aggression while Yue Fei died from more complicated tragic elements containing political conflict and personality traits. Fifthly, after they died, Wen Tian-Xiang had  a strong influence  basically on shi-da-fu(士大夫: a high government official) while Yue Fei had  a wider influence on the public as well as shi-da-fu.