An Analysis of the Reasons for the Acculturation of the South-to-North Scholars between the Liang and Chen Dynasties —Taking Yu Xin as an Example

Xiancheng He

doi:10.4236/jss.2019.76006

Abstract

After Emperor Wu ascended the throne in the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Yu Xin gradually adapted to and identified with the culture of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. There are four reasons for this: first, Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty attached great importance to Confucian-learning education; second, the great military, political and cultural advantages of the Northern Zhou Dynasty; third, Yu Xin’s restoration of Confucian meritorious service and career consciousness; fourth, Yu Xin changed his understanding of the downfall of Liang Dynasty. The acculturation and political identity of the south-to-north bachelors reflected the process of their spiritual growth.

Highlights

At the beginning of entering the north, Yu Xin was faced with a social and cultural environment totally different from that in the south and absolutely didn’t have the exultation of the eastern Jin people when returning to the homeland from the northern expedition
Yu Xin was a literary giant, he experienced a process from suspicion to trust in the Western Wei Dynasty
Anecdotes in the Court records “when Yu Xin arrived in the north at the beginning from the Southern Dynasty during the Liang Dynasty, scholars mostly despised him

Summary

Introduction

At the beginning of entering the north, Yu Xin was faced with a social and cultural environment totally different from that in the south and absolutely didn’t have the exultation of the eastern Jin people when returning to the homeland from the northern expedition During this period, he had obvious homesickness of his native land. Some researchers pointed out that, “the Confucian cultural value orientation deeply hidden in the heart of the southern period began to deeply affect his life and pursuit” [4] He began to focus on the Northern Zhou Dynasty and realpolitik, and reflected on the fall and fall of the Liang Dynasty, so as to realize personal value in the realistic official career and preserve the interests of the family. It was because of Yu Xin’s restoration of Confucian meritorious service and career consciousness that he changed his attitude towards the Northern Zhou Dynasty and tried to integrate into the regime of the Northern Zhou Dynasty

The Change of Yu Xin’s Understanding of the Downfall of Liang Dynasty

Conclusions