A Discussion On Ruan Yuan’s Confucian Classics Study

In the history of the Qing Dynasty, there was a special group whose members were both the dignitaries of the court and the well-known scholars; they not only have gained remarkable political achievement but also huge academic achievement. In this group, Ruan Yuan was a very important figure with his high position through the period of Qianlong Jiaqing and Daoguang, his longevity and his scholarly attainment. What’s more,as officials of Qing Dynasty, Ruan Yuan set up educational institutions wherever he worked, such as the foundation of Gujingjingshe when he was appointed Zhejiang Xunfu and the foundation of Xuehaitang when he became Grand Governor of Two Guang. Ruan Yuan presided over decades of academic trend and was regarded as "master". Because of his distinction as an official, Ruan Yuan’s achievements in his political career were emphasized while his scholarly achievements were a little neglected. So a further study of Ruan Yuan’s academy and thoughts was very important through which Ruan Yuan’s image as a scholar can be revealed. What’s more, there were lots of scholar officials in the Qing Dynasty like Ruan Yuan. The Special status made their research aim, scholarly interests and study approach different from other scholars. A study of Ruan Yuan can shed some light on the research of such a group.Ruan Yuan’s academic achievement was huge and his wide range of research covered Jing (Confucian classics), Shi(historiography), literature, astronomy, mathematics, epigraph, calligraphy and paintings. Not only did he organized compiling and engraving lots of books but also he personally proofread and wrote many books. Among his erudite research, classical study was his focus. Ruan Yuan highly praised Confucian classics. He thought "Jing was the most important among the ancient Chinese books","The teachings of the sages kept in Jing" and "The scholars should start their reading form Jing". Therefore only through the investigation of Ruan Yuan’s research on Jingxue(Confucian classics study), can we grasp Ruan Yuan’s academic essence.Ruan Yuan’s Confucian classics study accomplishment was mainly in two aspects:One is the compiling of the documents of Jingxue documents, another was the related research on Jingxue.Ruan Yuan’s tremendous contributions to Confucian classics study mainly lay in his organizing publication of Huangqingjingjie(皇清经解),his emendation of Shisanjingzhushu(十三经注疏)and his Compilation of Jingjizhuangu(经籍籑诂)The special status led to more efforts being put into these things. Huangqingjingjie brought together the main exegetical writings of the early and middle period of Qing dynasty with important academic meanings. Shisanjingzhushu jiaokanji(十三 经注疏校勘记)was not only an important accomplishment of Ruan Yuan in the field of proofreading, but also represented the important accomplishment in the Qing Dynasty. Jingjizhuangu was the practice of Ruan Yuan’s exegetical thoughts and concept. At the same time, the three documents which were very typical and reprehensive reflected Ruan Yuan’s some views on Jingxue. A special discussion of the three documents can help us grasp Ruan Yuan’s classical study clearly.Ruan Yuan’s classical study mainly concentrated on the textural research of the names and descriptions of the things and the codes in the classics, what’s more, on the illustration of the concept and category of the classical study. The following articles such as Kaogongjichezhitujie(考工记车制图解),Mingtanglun(名堂论),Mingtangtushuo(名堂图说)Fengtaishan lun(封泰山论)Xiaojingjiaosizongsishuo(孝经郊祀宗祀说)reflected that Ruan Yuan’S Kaoju was very precise and careful; Lunyulunrenlun(论语论仁论)Mengzilunrenlun(孟子论仁论)and Lunyujie(论语解)reflected Ruan’s aim of rebuilding the "new benelovence";Xingmingguxun(性命吉训), Fuxingbian(复性辩), Taxingshuo(塔性说)reflected Ruan’s pursuit of new "view of life", Lunyuyiguanshuo(论语一贯说),Daxuegewushuo(大学格物说),Xiaojingjie(孝经解)Reflected Ruan Yuan’s concept that "The teachings of the sage was nothing more than practice". Therefore, the single scholarly articles can reflect Ruan Yuan’s Jingxue thoughts and concept very well.From the academic life of Ruan Yuan, we can find that the features of his classical research and its formation had its origin. Not only did he inherit from Gu Yanwu, Mao Qiling and Dai Zhen, but also was helped by Jiao Xun and Ling Tingkan. What’s more, his classical thoughts had something to do with politics, socio-culture, geographical culture and personal status.Before being an official, his classical research had the feather of kaoju; After being an official, his classical research took on the feature of giving equal attention to kaoju and Yili, following both the Hanxue tradition and the Songxue tradition and combining academy and statecraft. Being influenced by the local culture of his birthplace Yangzhou, in which the academic trend was respecting both Jing and Shi, emphasizing statecraft, imploration and innovation and was vey extensive, Ruan’s research also presented the feature of broadness and grandness. In another word, Ruan Yuan valued both kaoju and Yili; and he stood for seeking truth from facts in academy and combining academy and statecraft. The approach he advocated had quite an effect on his generation and later generations.As a high-ranking minister of seniority, Ruan Yuan were always thinking how to put his academy into practice. Especially during the turbulent era of Jiaqing and Daoguang, Ruan Yuan’s attaching importance to the practical function of academy had significant meanings. The concept that learning serving statecraft strengthened his self-consciousness of undertaking the social and historical duty and his mission. Therefore, Ruan Yuan’s sad mood and his thirsty for contribution to the times embodied the feelings of the scholars at that time.Being a scholar official of renown, Ruan Yuan Summarized the academic achievements in the earlier and middle period of Qing. And he also personally advocated and committed to the discussion of learning and statecraft, which influenced the academic trend of middle and later period of Qing. During the era of Jiaqing and Daoguang, the academic trend of following both the Hanxue and Songxue, the rising of Jinwen Confucian Canon and the generating of the thoughts of valuing Li was the trend of the times, and was also related to Ruan Yuan’s advocating. Ruan Yuan played an important role in serving a link between past and future in the Qing Dynasty academic history.