Modern Taoist Concept

Compared with the research of the ideology of Taoism in ancient times, the attention of academic circles to the research of Taoism in modern times appears lonely and extremely weak since long ago. In the last few years, although monographs and papers have been published, their quantity and theory bearing have the suitable disparity with the research of Taoism in ancient times, especially the Lao-Zhuang Taoism in the pre-Qin period. In view of the research condition of the present academic circles, thisdissertation takes "The view of Taoism in modern times------the analysis about theresearch of the ideology of Taoism in modern times" as a topic, attempting to comb the historical process of the research of the ideology of Taoism in modern times, promulgating its political, thinking and cultural value, clearly revealing the spirit of the times and the significance which contained in the Taoism in ancient times. All these works hope to promote the tide of the research about the Taoism in modern times which is just budding and make up the weak link in this research. Also this is my intention to write this dissertation.As an important constituent of Chinese traditional philosophy, the Taoism includes Huang-Lao Taoism, taking the Lao-Zhuang Taoism as the branch. As far as its special characteristic of culture, it includes the Metaphysics construction of "Tao", negative thinking way and political philosophy of "take no action". But in the modern times, facing the internal disorder and foreign invasion, the impact and challenge of western learning, many scholars stressed in the idea of equality, freedom, democratic as well as "jingshizhiyong",impelling the development of research of Taoism in modern times. According to the principle that combines the history with the logic, this dissertation divides the research in modern times into three stages. The first stage is from the Opium War to "the Reform Movement of 1898", its characteristic is the combination of "jingshizhiyong" and the ideology of Taoism. The second stage is from "the Reform Movement of 1898" to the beginning of Republic of China, its characteristic is the combination of the western idea and ideology of Taoism. The third stage is from the beginning of Republic of China to "the May 4th Movement", its characteristic is using the multi-dimensional method in the research of the ideology of Taoism. These are the important content which elaborated in the "Introduction".This dissertation divides five chapters to elaborate after the "Introduction".The first chapter, emphatically elaborates that the social background is the modern internal disorder and foreign invasion dual crises; the cultural background is the declination of Confucianism and the introduction of the Western learning; the academic background is the upsurge of the science of Zhuzi.The second chapter emphatically analyses the research of Taoism by Wei Yuan and Zeng Guofan. It points: The years between the Opium War and "the Reform Movement of 1898" saw the revival of Chinese utilitarianism along with the deepening of social crisis and flourishing of "jinwenjingxue". Although the Chinese utilitarianism still focused on the Confucianism ideology, the Confucianism ideology was insufficient to meet the requirement of that period alone, as the social condition constantly deteriorated. Taoism ideology, both opposing to Confucianism and harmonious with it, received a great deal of attention while its "jingshijimin" idea started to emerge remarkably. Wei Yuan and Zeng Guofan led the inquiring effort about the social political value of Taoism ideology in late Qing dynasty. Wei Yuan, by expounding the "jingshizhiyong" idea of "jinwenjingxue", explained the book of "Lao Zi" in a new way and considered the book could rescue the world. He gave new understanding to the categories of "take no action", "no desire", "compassion, restraint and unimportance" in this book, meanwhile negative the "small community with a few people" Utopian ideal of Lao Zi by supporting the idea of "altering the institution" and "changing the ancient tradition". In contrast of Wei Yuan's effort to explore the value of "Lao Zi" from academically, Zeng Guofan expanded the significance of Taoism in "jingshi" through his practical experience. Zeng advocated the "Lao Zhuang as body" and the "Yu Mo as utility", that is to say, adopting the "peace and nature" purport of Taoism to build one's spiritual world, thereby extending to the "waiwang" outlook, so that the resurgence of China could be achieved. The "jingshizhiyong" idea of Zeng is characterized with supplementing Confucianism with Taoism ideology to conquer its shortages. The ideas of Taoism he referred to embraced were "empty" with "calm", "regret" with "ashamed feeling", and "no desire" with "imperfection".The third chapter< From "the Reform Movement of 1898" to the beginning of Republic of China: the Combination of the Western Ideology and the Thought of Taoism>, emphatically analyses the research of Taoism by Yan Fu and Liu Shipei. It pointes: In this period, the western ideology invaded China in an irresistible manner, penetrating deeply into the ideological field. Many Chinese scholars, no longer satisfied with only to introduce the original western ideology, tried to find universal "philosophy" which might be applicable in China, through thoroughly studying western classic works. During this period, the research on Taoism ideology mainly carried out by scholars who explained "Lao-Zhuang" through western ideology, and expounded their idea of freedom and equality, highlighting its democratic essence. This new development on the ideological level of Taoism was represented by Yan Fu and Liu Shipei. Yan Fu, the author of "LaoZi Review" and "ZhuangZi Review", held that there were evolutionism, democracy and ideal of freedom in Taoism philosophy, by its unique interpretation of employing western ideology. Liu Shipei, more advanced than Yan Fu, not only studied thoroughly the Taoism ideology, but also combined it with western democracy. In this way, he criticized the "making people ignorant" idea of Lao Zi, explored the idea of equality and freedom of Taoism, as well as harmonized the modern western anarchism with Taoism ideology. The fourth chapter< From the beginning of Republic of China to "the May 4th Movement": Using the Multi-dimensional Method in the Research of Taoism> emphatically analyses the research of Taoism by Zhang Taiyan, Liang Qichao, Hu Shi and Wu Yu. It points: Under the surge of the trend of exchange between China and the west, China was faced with a question of cultural reconstruction. This included the critique, inheritance and releases to the traditional culture and the response, choice and absorption to the Western culture. Certain malpractices that exposed by the First World War caused people suspect the westernization, then transferred to excavate the value of the traditional culture, making concessions with China and the West, uniting the new and the old. In this period, Taoism had played the noticeable role. The research of Taoism both was requested by the situation of times, and had played the role in the broader cultural domain, presented the multi-dimensional characteristic simultaneously. Firstly: the combination of the research of Taoism and the critiquing of Confucianism. Wu Yu was the representative, he explained the new knowledge by borrowing the Taoism theory. Secondly: using the words system of the Western philosophy in the research of Taoism thought. Hu Shi's and Liang Qichao's were the representative in this respect. Thirdly: using the Taoism thought to reconsider the modern civilization. Zhang Taiyan's displayed his calm ponder of the western culture by explaining the theory of Taoism; Liang Qichao attempted to unify the western culture laying particular stress on science and the Chinese culture emphasizing on humanity, then reconstructed "the third kind of civilization"; Hu Shi criticized Zhuang Zi's life philosophy and the counter-scientific thought from his obedience of the pragmatism.The fifth chapter emphatically revealed the drawbacks which were left by the scholars in their research of Taoism. Under the surge of the trend of the times, many scholars excavated the value of Taoism in three stratification one after another, which was politics, thinking and culture. This would not only develop the field of vision in Taoism studies, but also helped to disseminate the modern western idea. But the urgent time duty caused them could not thoroughly and carefully to study the work of Taoism, unable to grasp the thought of Taoism systematically. Therefore, regardless of in its using method or in its scientific theory construction, the research of the ideology of Taoism in modern times had certain drawbacks and insufficiencies. Firstly: subjectively analogy. The method appending Chinese learning with western learning could combine Chinese and the West academic, but also had certain disappointment. This would not only distort the original meaning of the Taoism, but also extend and deviate the western learning. Secondly: lacked the systematically theory research. The research of the ideology of Taoism in modern times appeared highlights for the thought, but the theory faded out. On the one hand, this condition would neglect the value of the Taoism; on the other hand, it would overcorrect and exaggerate the modern significance of the Taoism. Thirdly: pragmatism and utilitarianism. This would misinterpret the Taoism thought and lack matter-of-fact attitude.The innovation of this dissertation lies in three aspects. Firstly: "Third: digging the wisdom of Taoism in modern times" in "Introduction", elaborates the idea of equality, freedom and democracy as well as "jingshizhiyong", which contained in the Taoism philosophy, proves fully and localizes accurately, and also echoes with the case research from the second chapter to the fourth. This grasps the critical question involved in the research of modern Taoism well, also can highlight the value of political, thinking and culture. As if it can give some inspiration and has such theory depth, compared with monographs and the papers published which stressed in plane elaboration. Secondly: divides the research into three times and emphatically pointes: from the Opium War to "the Reform Movement of 1898",its characteristic is the combination of "jingshizhiyong" and the ideology of Taoism; from "the Reform Movement of 1898" to the beginning of Republic of China, its characteristic is the combination of western idea and ideology of Taoism; from the beginning of Republic of China to "the May 4th Movement", its characteristic is using the multi-dimensional method in the research of Taoism. This kind of division not only conformity the resources in the research of modern Taoism, but also reveal the launching of Taoism in Modern China clearly. Thirdly: the second, third and fourth chapter analyze the case. In which the analysis about the research of Taoism by Wei Yuan, Yan Fu, Zhang Taiyan, Liang Qichao, Wu Yu appear carefully, thoroughly and fresh, compared with the former research. For example, the characteristic of the research of Taoism by Wei Yuan is "jingshizhiyong"; Yan Fu combined the ideology of Taoism with the western idea; Zhang Taiyan's "jufenjinhualun" contains the introspection of criticism of the society and the knowledge alienation of Zhuang Zi; the change of the attitude to Lao Zi of Liang Qichao contacts with his view of culture in old age; Wu Yu opposed feudal autocracy by the spirit of Taoism.Because of the limitation of my knowledge and skill, there are a lot of drawbacks in this dissertation. Firstly: waiting for enriching the material. Secondly: waiting for localizing the relation between the research of Taoism and the whole ideology. Thirdly: waiting for deepening the analysis of individual character.