A Study Of The Study Of The Book Of Rites In The Republic Of China

In the present dissertation, some basic landscape of research concerning Liji in the RC (Republic of China) will be sketched in more detail. It takes the Study of Liji as the entity of investigation, which can reveal some basic issues regarding the study of Liji. Five parts can consequently be divided, i.e., introduction, textual research of Liji,interpretation of the classics of Liji, general review of Liji, and conclusion.Introduction includes the panoramic vision of Liji in the RC, together with the significance of the study, short literature review, research procedure and methods.Two chapters can be divided in the part of textual research. First chapter dealt with the historical origin of Liji and the speculation about the possible author of Wangzhi. With regards to the historical origin of Liji, a historical summary of the pre-RC research was carried out, which dealt with diverse arguments among scholars then. It was found that the historical origin of Liji had much to do with the textology and the JingwenJingxue (the classical learning based on official script) in Qing dynasty, including the testifying of its authority and the suspecting its ancient classics.And such interactive demonstration had laid a solid foundation of the subsequent historical origin of Liji. Concerning the speculation about the possible author of Wangzhi, a historical summary of the pre-RC research was also carried out, which dealt with diverse arguments among those scholars then. It was commonly found that the possible author of Wangzhi might be composed by Hanwendi' learned scholar,which was based on disapproval of the textology and JinwenJingxue(the classical learning based on official script) in Qing dynasty. Thus, it can be attested in the present study that the possible author of Wangzhi might be true by those scholars in the RC with pertinent other supportive materials.Chapter two coped with the historical sources of Yueling, its historical origin and author. In the historical origin of Yzeling, a historical summary of the pre-RC research was also carried out, which dealt with diverse arguments among those scholars then.It was commonly found that the evidence of disapproval of the fact that Yueling originated from Lvji, or Yueling originated from Zhoushu was not persuasive.Research among those scholars in the RC provided a brand new start for the historical origin of Yueling, which was previous regards as either originated from Lvji, or from Zhoushu. And in the historical sources of Jinyueling, a historical summary of the pre-RC research was also carried out, which dealt with diverse arguments among those scholars then. It was commonly found that the idea of Jinyueling being composed in Han dynasty was not convincing, instead, it might only be the different copies of Yueling in Han dynasty, given that Yueling in Han dynasty belonged to the Shishiyuelingzhaotiao kind of official documents, different from Mingtangyueling, as their similar names suggested, which never equated to Jingyueling. In the historical sources of Xueji, a historical summary of the pre-RC research was also carried out,which dealt with diverse arguments among those scholars then. It was commonly found that Xueji was temporally earlier than Xunzi with uncertain author.Dumingtong's idea that Dongzhongshu in Han dynasty was the author of Xueji had much to do with his cognition about the origin of Liji.Chapter three investigated the interpretation of the classics concerning Liji in the RC. In Lijizhengzhuzisiziyanzhengzhuzheng (hereafter, Bzheng in short) by Jianzhaoliang, the content of Buzheng was summarized and the typical entries of disapproval of Zheng, approval of Zheng, and supplementing of Zheng were analyzed.The academic value, its features and shortcomings of Buzheng were discussed as well.In Lixunzuan (short for Xunzuan) by Weiyuankuang, the content of Xunzuan was summarized and the typical entries of disapproval of Zheng, disapproval of Kong, and disapproval of other scholars were analyzed. The academic value, its features and shortcomings of Xunzuan were discussed as well. In Lijiwenzhih (short for Wenzhilu)by Liuxianxin , an analysis of features of its content and entries was conducted from the classification of chapters, the elaborations of the text, and the interpretation of the classics, so as to discuss the academic value and feature of Wenzhilu.Chapter four involved the general review of Liji in the RC. In the study of Liji by Liuxianxin, with Zhijixulu by Liuxianxin as the bases, we summarized the studies of Liji concerning the style, aim and research methods. Meanwhile, we also discussed the academic sources of Liuxianxin, and evaluated the academic value and historical meaningfulness of Zhijixulun by Liuxianxin. In the study of Li by Caijiemin, we adopted a historical view of Caijiemin's study of Li, and summarized the sources of Lijitonglun by Cai, the relations between Liji and Yili, the research methods of Liji,the demonstration of Liji alike, so as to evaluated the academic value and historical meaningfulness of Cai's study of Li. We found that, both studies of Liji were influenced by the idea of "Liujingjieshi (the six classics are historical records)",among which, Lijitonglun also absorbed the recent study of the classics in the RC.Also, both contained the features of Liji, as the special by-product during the transitional phase of the study of the classics.Conclusion of the dissertation discussed the achievements, weaknesses,influences and historical meaningfulness regarding the demonstration of Liji in RC, its interpretation and general review, which could also be regarded as the conclusion of studies of Liji in the RC.