On the Writing Strategies of Demotion Gratitude Letter in the Song Dynasty
The Song dynasty reached the peak of gratitude letter culture,among which the demotion gratitude letter had more literary color and personal characteristics compared to other routine gratitude letter.The demotion gratitude letter often expresses gratitude from the perspective of"Serious culpability but minor punishment",either thanks for being given a good place,or thanks for being spared from killing.They often make self-deprecation and self-dissection from two aspects of"humble birth"and"foolishness",but in cautious language,there is affirmation and praise for one's own character.Words such as"illness and decay"often appear in demotion gratitude letter which are not only a true portrayal of their life,but also a plea for mercy in the face of the monarch.In the early period of the Northern Song dynasty,there were still many words of persuasion and rebuttal in the demotion gratitude letter.However,as the degree of demotion deepened and the political environment deteriorated,persuasion and rebuttal became relatively rare.From demotion gratitude letter,we can see the limited speaking space and awkward survival situation of scholars under political power,as well as scholar's efforts to balance the centralization system and subject personality,and to express their personal emotions in the cracks.
Song dynastydemotiongratitude letterfactional political struggleSu Shi
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