Publications

Publication details [#13557]

Yang, Shengxiang. 2017. Body Metaphor in the History of Medieval Political Thought: Rhetoric Paradigm and Its Spiritual Core. Academic Monthly.
Publication type
Article in journal
Publication language
Chinese

Abstract

Body metaphor is an important rhetorical paradigm commonly seen in the European medieval political works, which draws inspirations from classical philosophy, Christian theology and medieval medical science. In the metaphor, political community is seen as an organic body which is explained by ideologists from the perspectives of the organic natural features, such as secularism, holism and pluralism. John of Salisbury, Marsilius of Padua and Christine de Pizan, three academics who have various backgrounds were representatives in using this metaphor. They utilized the same rhetoric paradigm to state interpretations on some coherent themes including kingship, papalism and extension of community, which not only presented the continuity of political thoughts but reflected the historical context and the ideological trend. In general, body metaphor promoted the disintegration of the divine right of monarchy and medieval world-empire conception, conducive to middle class' and women’s participation in politics, benefiting the development of modern ideologies such as secular state and republican government.