英文摘要
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Li Yu (李漁) is difficult to categorize. Using "household duty" as a clue, this study proposes the novel thinking behind Twelve Towers (十二樓) as evidenced by how Li Yu utilizes solutions for resolving conflicts and story plots in addition to presenting "successive solutions" in a playful manner. By changing how the conflicts are set, Li Yu redirects the focus of the traditional scholar-beauty story from pursuit of love to married life. In addition, by deferring the separation-reunion plot until after the marriage, the story climax shifts from that of a love adventure to one concerning family security. Thus, Li Yu treats the topic of household duty in a more practical sense. This approach leads to a novel concept in household duty, one that exists between scholarly study and promiscuity. To balance affection (情) and rituals (禮), Li Yu presents his intention to resolve conflicts through several approaches, such as facing the problem directly, deciding for oneself, and skillfully balancing solutions. These approaches lead to a unique sense of aesthetics that feature both problem solving and improvisation. From the historical context of Twelve Towers, this study surmises how Li Yu's work demonstrates affection, rationality in deciding for oneself, and reinterprets ritual from his flexible approach and mediocre attitude. In shelving and resolving the affection-ritual conflict, Li Yu's work demonstrates crisis awareness and opportunity for creativity in people who endeavored to resolve the problems of household duty in the disorder of the late Ming-early Qing period.
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