“Without Zongzhou, the Studies of Yangming's Xinxue Would be Full of Fallacies”: Liu Zongzhou's Interpretation of Daxue and His Rectification of Yangming's Xinxue(PDF)
《南京师大学报》（社会科学版）[ISSN:1006-6977/CN:61-1281/TN]
- Issue:
- 2023年01期
- Page:
- 158-168
- Research Field:
- 哲学研究
- Publishing date:
Info
- Title:
- “Without Zongzhou, the Studies of Yangming's Xinxue Would be Full of Fallacies”: Liu Zongzhou's Interpretation of Daxue and His Rectification of Yangming's Xinxue
- Author(s):
- LI Jingfeng
- Keywords:
- Liu Zongzhou; Wang Yangming; Xinxue; Daxue; rectification
- PACS:
- -
- DOI:
- -
- Abstract:
- Wang Yangming successfully challenged Zhu Xi and created a new theory of Xinxue心学(learning of heart-and-mind)by proceeding from his interpretation of Daxue 大学(The Great Learning), which led to the situation where it was impossible to grasp the rationale framework of his thoughts without starting from Daxue. As for Liu Zongzhou's supplement to and correction of Yangming's Xinxue, the current academic research seldom starts from the annotated version of Daxue, which not only deviates from the academic approach advocated by Wang Yangming, but also runs counter to Liu Zongzhou's own understanding of the problem. As a scholar who grew up among the fallacies in the studies of Xinxue and believed that Yangming's theory was constructed according to Daxue, Liu Zongzhou offered an alternative interpretation of Daxue, trying to rectify the mistakes in the studies of Xinxue by examining and analyzing the text of Daxue and the philosophical ideas behind the lines. In the form of “reversing the doctrine of ‘six classics interpret me'”, “placing ‘sincerity' above ‘conscience'”, “integrating the ontological essence and moral efforts as an organic one”, and “taking vigilance in solitude as an approach to the investigation of things”, his new theoretical interpretations plugged and filled the loopholes in the studies of Xinxue at that time, thus renewing and promoting the development of Yangming's theory. Because of Liu's position as a leading scholar in the field of post-Neo-Confucianism that was dominant in the Song and Ming Dynasties, his work is of typical significance in the academic history: firstly, it promoted Yangming's Xinxue to move from neglecting the classics toward the restoration of classicism; secondly, it deepened and improved the consciousness structure and practical moral experience advocated by Xinxue, and paid more attention to the purity and consciousness of morality; thirdly, it promoted Yangming's Xinxue to move from indulging in metaphysical talk to pursuing realistic substance.
Last Update: 2023-02-25