Confucian purism and Han Learning: Hui Dong's commentary on Taishang Ganyingpian

Du, Patrick

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/108647 Copy

Description

Title

Confucian purism and Han Learning: Hui Dong's commentary on Taishang Ganyingpian

Author(s)

Du, Patrick

Issue Date

2020-07-24

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Chow, Kai-Wing

Committee Member(s)

• Shao, Dan
• Chen, Jingling

Department of Study

E. Asian Languages & Cultures

Discipline

East Asian Studies

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.A.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Confucian pursim
• Han Learning
• Morality book

Abstract

Abstract This thesis examines Hui Dong’s commentary on Taishang Ganyingpian. Under the influence of Confucian purism, writing a commentary on a Daoist morality book seems improbable for Hui Dong, the most influential scholar of Confucian Classical learning in mid-Qing China. On the contrary, I argue that Hui’s commentary can be analyzed to illustrate the profound impact of Confucian purism and Han learning. First, a close examination of Taishang Ganyingpian and its prototype indicates that they contain a great number of Confucian elements despite its Daoist origins. The major divergence between Hui Dong and Song scholars is hidden behind the similar ethical codes. I argue that driven by Confucian purism, in the commentary Hui sought to exclude heterodox texts such as Buddhist Sutras and Neo-Confucian texts. He reaffirms the ethical values in the treatise with quotations from the Confucian Classics. They are now authenticated as Confucian values uncontaminated in Hui’s purist view. Hui Dong also adopted Han scholars’ idea to explain the core concept “ganying” of Taishang Ganyingpian, which shows a major divergence from Song scholars. By studying Hui’s commentary, we can gain a better understanding of the impact of Confucian purism and Han learning on Hui Dong’s scholarship and moral values beyond Classical learning.

Graduation Semester

2020-08

Type of Resource

Thesis

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/108647

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2020 Patrick Du

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