Female intervention in government happened from time to time in Chinese history. The women involved were usually either ambitious individuals who made use of favourable opportunities to seize political power or daughters of powerful families whose marriages into the Imperial House were arranged in order to insure the power of their male relatives. In tracing the background of these women, we find that the former type often came from a non-Chinese or lower-class family while the latter type were usually Chinese and invariably had an aristocratic background. Although coming from different backgrounds these ladies shared the common characteristic that they were contented with the position they had as Empress or Empress Dowager. The further ambition of themselves ascending to the throne never occurred to them. The cases of female intervention during the Tang period were rather different from the above stereotypes. They were a succession of ambitious female members of the Imperial family who tried to follow in the footsteps of Empress Wu in order to rule the country both in name and in fact. Though none of them did succeed, their ambition and struggle was one of the major factors that influenced the political history of the first half of the eighth century. / Arts, Faculty of / Asian Studies, Department of / Graduate

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

Sizhu was written for the standard Pierrot ensemble though with percussion replacing the singer. This particular ensemble is capable of producing a multitude of colors while maintaining the balance inherent to a chamber group. The Chinese name, si’zhu, is a literal and figurative metaphor for these elements of the ensemble. Literally translated “silk” (sī) and “bamboo” (zhú), the word is a generalization for Chinese classical music developed in the Jiangsu province (Jiāngnán sīzhú) that utilizes strings, or “silk” instruments, and flutes, or “bamboo,” instruments in combination. A typical work involves two or more players of either ilk. In reference to the work presented here, Sizhu is a metaphor for the western instruments (flute and clarinet as “bamboo,” and violin and cello as “silk”) that are employed within the piece. It also refers to my use of a Chinese melody in the compositional process. The song, Er Quan Ying Yue (The Moon Reflected In Second Spring), was composed and performed regularly on the streets by the blind erhu player A Bing. The song has been fragmented, stretched, and varied to the point of near inscrutability, though it becomes more comprehensible following the mid-point. It inspires both structural and local events. The work also employs aspects of the spectral style. The first section is a slow distortion and transformation of the A harmonic spectrum; specific partials are emphasized as the spectrum expands and contracts. Additionally, fragments of the Chinese melody appear within the confines of each specific harmonic structure. The second part completely diverges utilizing assimilated pentatonic scale permutations. Finally, the third section synthesizes these two elements of musical material within the piece as the instruments morendo into silence.

Wu Wen-ying is not only an undoubtedly important figure in the history of ci poetry, but also a controversial ci poet. Since the late song dynasty, reviewers have been having different opinions about Wu Wen-ying's ci poetry, praising or criticizing. It is a special phenomenon in the history of ci criticism. This issue is worthy of further exploring both in the work itself, reader response, etc. Therefore, in this dissertation the author uses Wolfgang Iser¡¦s ¡§artistic¡¨ and ¡§aesthetic¡¨ concepts to discuss text and the reader response, researching in the art form of Wu Wen-ying's ci poetry and the reviewers¡¦ criticism. Since the latter involves the reader responses in different times, this dissertation further elaborates through Hans Robert Jauss¡¦ concepts of ¡§horizon of expectation¡¨ and ¡§reception history.¡¨ As for the art form, this dissertation discusses two parts in Wu Wen-ying's ci poetry, ¡§the organization of writing¡¨ and the ¡§diction,¡¨ in order to explore the nature of its art form. The structure and composition of ¡§the organization of writing¡¨ and the ¡§diction¡¨ are relevant to the overall organization and each word in the text; Therefore, in ¡§the organization of writing¡¨, it will research in the ¡§design of time and space¡¨ and the ¡§arrangement of fiction and reality.¡¨ As for the ¡§diction¡¨ is concerned, the creative approach is analyzed by the ¡§image,¡¨ ¡§allusion,¡¨ ¡§substitute word,¡¨ and so on, and their possible impacts on reading. Moreover, regarding the history of ci criticism, this dissertation shows the criticism of Wu Wen-ying's ci poetry by ci poetry schools and ci poet groups in different times, through ¡§synchronic¡¨ and ¡§diachronic¡¨ approach and Hans Robert Jauss¡¦ concept of ¡§reception history.¡¨ After discussing ci poets¡¦ criticism, the other chapter of this dissertation will further examine on why Wu Wen-ying's ci poetry is so controversial. Each ci poetry school has different aesthetic orientation and horizon of expectation which affect its criticism. Thus, in this chapter there is further discussion about the reasons through ¡§review standards¡¨ and ¡§reading mode.¡¨ Finally, the conclusion summarizes the preceding three parts, the art form, reviewers¡¦ criticism on Wu Wen-ying's ci poetry, and the reason why Wu Wen-ying's ci poetry is controversial.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes special study report entitled: Impact of MTR on urban development : pedestrianization. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1980.