Abstract

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Author(s):: LI Ji-xiang; School of Humanities, Foguang University, Yilan 27262, Taiwan, China

Keywords:: “Confucian temple world”; “Confuciuss own sincerity in sacrificing”; sages classics; Confucian orthodoxy; rapport; coexistence

Abstract:: Based on the academic issue about the root of “Confucian temple world”， this paper, explained ZHOU Lianxi, ZHU Xi, and HUANG Gans questions about the sacrifices to ancient sages in Confucian temples and ancestral temples from “Confuciuss own sincerity in sacrificing”. It further put forward that reading the classics written by ancients sages can make one “communicate with” them in spirit, and the sacrifices to memorial tablets, portraits, or statues of sages in Confucian temples and ancestral temples is actually to use Confucian “orthodoxy” surpassing the limit of “blood relationship sacrifice” to realize the “mutual communication” and understanding with the sages in “spirit”. “Confuciuss own sincerity in sacrificing” existing in “Confucian temple world” is to regard the ancient sages as the living ones to show ones “respect” and “filial piety” to them, constructing the world of “coexistence” with ancient sages and later followers.