On the Classification of Yuan Haowen's Epitaphs

In The Complete Works of Yuan Haowen,99 epitaphs are included and can be classified into six categories according to the dead: ministers,generals,clerks,intellectuals,monks and Taoist priests,and others.In the course of epitaph composition,Yuan Haowen is capable of highlighting the learning and moral characteristics,grace and temperament,and achievements of different protagonists in line their different social statuses.So,his epitaphs are full of profound emotions,embody his peculiar pursuit for beauty,and therefore have high cognitive and aesthetic values.