| dc.description.abstract | Zheng Zhen (鄭珍, 1806-1864), a poet from Zunyi (遵義) , Guizhou (貴州) , with the courtesy name Ziyin (子尹) and the pen name Chaiweng (柴翁) , served as a regional education official in Guizhou, promoting Ruism. His academic research focused on ritual studies and Grammatology, and his works and thoughts influenced future scholars in Guizhou. Zheng Zhen′s poetic works were inspired by the style of the Song Dynasty, and he advocated the importance of cultivating one′s character through reading. He was one of the poets associated with the Song Dynasty poetry innovation movement.Due to his failure in the imperial examination, Zheng Zhen never served as a government official outside Guizhou. Instead, he dedicated himself to the construction of local culture in his hometown, Zunyi. He compiled “Zunyi Fuzhi” (《遵義府志》) and organized the local poetry collection “Bo Ya” (《播雅》). The poetry collection “Chao Jing Chao Shi Chao” (《巢經巢詩鈔》) included his experiences traveling in Zunyi and even throughout Guizhou.
This thesis focuses on how Zheng Zhen constructed the regional identity of Zunyi and presented his understanding of his hometown through his writings. He rewrote the history of Zunyi, originally documented by previous authorities, with a localized perspective. Through prefectural gazetteer and Zheng Zhen′s Han Chinese viewpoint, he highlighted the influence of Han culture on Zunyi, with the emphasis on the Yang clan. The Yang family had ruled as Bozhou (播州) for generations, they made a significant impact on the culture of Zunyi as they transitioned from a minority ethnic group to adopting Ruism as their guiding principle. All heirs to the Tusi (土司, chiefdom) from the Yang family were sent to receive Han Chinese education in the central government institution, indicating a shift of identity and affiliation in people of Zunyi. Zheng Zhen attempted to build the “elegant and refined” literature of Zunyi through his local poetry collection. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, many reclusive scholars migrated to Zunyi. Inspired by the poets who were adherents of the previous dynasty and harboring admiration for Tao Yuanming (陶淵明), they refrained from boasting about themselves, and thus resulting in a lack of widespread reputation. Additionally, the construction of Zunyi′s regional literature would not be complete without mentioning Li Bai (李白) , who connected his frustrations caused by living in seclusion and obscurity with being exiled to Yelang (夜郎) . Moreover, the local officials constructed buildings to honor Li Bai, making him a spiritual beacon for local literati and as a symbol of the elevation of Zunyi′s literature to a refined level. Finally, through Zheng Zhen′s on-site investigations of Zunyi, encompassing cultural sites, natural landscapes, and local specialties, he demonstrated his concern for his hometown from a literati perspective. This thesis explores how Zheng Zhen, as a member of the Zunyi Shatan (沙灘) literati group and one of the most renowned literati of his time, led fellow literati in constructing regional awareness and influenced cultural dissemination and literary development in the area. | en_US |