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Main characteristics and achievements of philosophy of Lao Tzu in Ming and Qing Dynasties(PDF)

《长安大学学报(社科版)》[ISSN:1671-6248/CN:61-1391/C]

Issue:
2020年03期
Page:
78-87
Research Field:
历史学
Publishing date:

Info

Title:
Main characteristics and achievements of philosophy of Lao Tzu in Ming and Qing Dynasties
Author(s):
LIU Gusheng
School of History and Culture,Central China Normal University,Wuhan 430079,Hubei,China
Keywords:
Ming and Qing Dynastiesphilosophy of Lao TzuLao TzuTaoismthe principles of three religionspopularization
PACS:
B223.1
DOI:
-
Abstract:
The philosophy of Lao Tzu in Ming and Qing Dynasties is rich in content, creative in thought, and endowed with new characteristics in the new era. Based on the analysis of the annotations of Lao Tzu and the fusion of the ideas of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism in the philosophy of Lao Tzu, as well as the popularization of the philosophy of Lao Tzu, this paper aims to analyze the main characteristics, status and values of the philosophy of Lao Tzu in Ming and Qing Dynasties. The research believes that the interpretation of the political functions of the philosophy of Lao Tzu in Ming and Qing Dynasties has reached a new level. It advocates the possession of wealth among the people, and proposes the issue of the method of restricting sovereign rights. Besides, it transforms the idea of value on oneself in Taoism by the practical statecraft thought in Confucianism, inherits the Confucian tradition of "the whole world is owned by the public" on the one hand, and reaffirms the value and rationality of private matters to a limited degree on the other hand, thus developing the publicprivate outlook with a touch of political enlightenment. Scholars in Ming and Qing Dynasties did not confine themselves to a simple analogy in the philosophy of Lao Tzu when dealing with the relationship among Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, but paid attention to revealing the indepth reasons to the interconnection and integration among these three. For instance, some scholars tried to interpret the ideas of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism using the concept of Qi, believing that the cultivation of the three are different in approach, but similar in the ideal state that they pursue. Some scholars conducted their analysis based on the contradictory thinking mode of Lao Tzu’s "oxymorons", believing that Lao Tzu never wanted to forsake the four Confucian virtues of humanity, righteousness, propriety and wisdom. To understand Lao Tzu’s ideas, people must pay attention to the "general ideas in his words", which are expressed in an opposite way of its intention. Lao Tzu’s thought is mainly focused on selfcultivation and country governance. Once we grasp this main idea and the characteristics of his expounded ideas, we will understand that "Confucius and Lao Tzu share the same origin, and that Confucianism and Taoism can be traced to the same roots". As the Taoist religion grew in the general public in Ming and Qing Dynasties, its integration with folk beliefs had become increasingly closer. Relevantly, the philosophy of Lao Tzu in Ming and Qing Dynasties saw a trend of popularization, which is exactly the unique ways and specific embodiment of the influence of Taoism on the Chinese society, culture and beliefs.

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Last Update: 2020-07-02