This thesis initiates research in writers’ manuscripts by using the manuscripts and related literary documents and information from the treasured collection stored in the library of National Tsing Hua University, among which the poetry manuscripts stand as the research subject. Basic methods are used, such as proofread, chronological ordering, annotation and interpretation, to return to the intrinsic literature essence for sustainable insight study and interpretation of all aspects including the literary works, composition history, progress from discussions with poet friends, the versions evolvement and intrinsic thoughts.
The second chapter of the thesis divides Yeh Jung-chung’s composition progress into 6 periods by the works’ volume peaks and in chronological order, analyzing the relationship between the work and the writer’s experiences, time background, and friendships. The third chapter discusses Yeh Jung-chung’s writing history and aesthetic viewpoints: From the preliminary manuscript to discussions with poet friends, revisions, and finally to the writer’s final text, every work is completed after experiencing three to four levels of transformation. The composition course presented in the manuscript has its precious value in literary history, especially through the attitudes that Yeh, Jung-chung held toward whether or not the poet friends’ revision is accepted and the revision process, both Yeh Jung-chung and his friends’ thoughts and composition ideas can be all the more revealed.
The fourth chapter discussed about the version evolvement of Yeh Jung-chung’s literary works after he passed away: Regarding the writer’s finished poetry manuscripts and poems collections, after passing on and editing by later generations, there are manuscript copies produced, and two prints of both single-article pamphlet and whole collection of “Splendor in the Grass-A Venture of Poetry”. During the copying and printing process, there were lots of mistakes been made, coupled with the variation caused by editors’ revision, which has attributed to the publication of “Splendor in the Grass-A Venture of Poetry” unable to fully demonstrate the original composition spirit in spite of its relatively complete collections. The conclusion summarizes Yeh Jung-chung’s composition attitudes, and also proposes advices on the future editing of Yeh Jung-chung’s poems collections from perspectives of proofread, editing, and distinguishing pseudoness.