New Study Of Wenzi

WENZI is a masterpiece of the Taoism. In the history of the development of the ideology after the Han Dynasty, it at long last won a rational recognition by scholars through all those conflicting influences with ups and downs. Adopted the core idea of LAOZI, WENZI took a new explanatory approach and at the same time achieved its own ideological value. It explained Tao by Yi(one) and introduced Qi into Tao, and had played a very important bridging role in the pursuit of the Taoist thought of the origin of the universe. Meanwhile, taking Tao as the final stand WENZI had explored the social politics and the value of life itself through its inclusive thinking and focus on the human being. It had reflected by a significant degree, the development of the history of Chinese Thought and had taken an indispensable place in the history of Chinese Thought.It is for such fundamental importance, this article is titled as A New Study of WENZI. On the basis of absorbing and analyzing the existent studies by the standing predecessors and through textural research and analysis, it will make a further study of the Taoist work--WENZI. So as to archive the following:Firstly, a fair evaluation of the documentary value of the present edition of WENZI. By comparisons of the present edition with the bamboo edition, the Guodian bamboo edition, the Shangbe bamboo edition, and other unearthed silk book editions to prove the documentary value and to give evidence of the time the work of WENZI had been completed. Secondly, a thorough understanding of Tao of the Taoism. Tao is the origin of the universe with both the physical and the spiritual attribute, it is not only the origin of the value system of the morality, but also an ideal condition of the human race in Chinese Culture. Thirdly, a clear assessment of the bridging role of WENZI in the Taoism. By presentation of the idea "Tao is Yi(one), Tao is Qi" of WENZI, and the introduction of Qi into Tao to the explanation of everything conceived by Tao. Also the intellectual enlightenment to HUAI NANZI for the final solution to the contradiction:"Tao is from Yi(one)".This article consists of six parts. Part one is an introduction of the main point and an outline of the analysis method of the article, with a brief introduction of the studies on WENZI in the intellectual field. Part two is a textual research of WENZI. Through comparisons of present edition of WENZI with LAOZI, the bamboo edition, the Guodian bamboo edition, the Shangbe bamboo edition, the silk book edition and the present edition of HUAI NANZI, to show the bridging connection with LAOZI and HUAI NANZI and its standing in the Taoism, and the time of finalization of the work of WENZE as late period of the Warring States. Part three, four and five are devoted to a systemic analysis of WENZI from the perspectives of the thought of universe, social politics and social ethics, respectively. Tao in WENZI was explained, inherited from LAOZI as the origin of the universe, in addition to the characteristic of infinity and extensibility, the idea of "The greatest has nothing beyond it, and the smallest has nothing within it", it had given Tao a much more philosophical grasp. WENZI had clearly pointed out that Tao was Yi, and it was the centre of space and the start of time; and Tao was Qi as well. It conceived Yin and Yang to produce everything. Then HUAI NANZI put forward "Tao starts from Yi" on that basis.integrate Yin and Yang theory into the Interpretation of Tao theory skillfully and finally resolve the fundamental contradiction in Tao Ideological system. These had further perfected the Taoism. Besides, taking Tao as the utmost power and be guided by it, WENZI revealed the social political thinking through the strategy of "holding Yi (one)by doing nothing", the legal system thinking by "protecting the law with Tao"; and the military strategy as "avoiding war and winning justice". Meanwhile, Tao was not only an abstract and spiritual concept in the Chinese Culture, but also it was the source of value system filled with virtues. That nature had logically laid ground for the existence of virtues like Ren (humanity) and Yi (righteousness). A further studying of LAOZI, WENZI and HUI NANZI, through separate analysis of Tao(the way),De(virtue), Ren(humanity) and Yi(righteousness), and under the framework of "the utmost way" had revealed the Taoism a more comprehensive and systemic theoretical structure, and an ideological strategy turning from pure defensive to defensive with offensive. Through textual research and philosophical analysis, the last part is the conclusion that on the one hand WENZI has very high documentary value; on the other hand it is of unique importance in the history of development of the Taoism.