Zhang Xuecheng's Research On Academic Thoughts

This thesis intends to discuss the status and contributions made by Zhang Xuecheng in the Chinese ancient academic history for the purpose of reflecting the inner structure and outer link of Chinese ancient academic history,eight chapters being divided in all.In the development of Chinese ancient academic history,Through the reflection on traditional academy,Zhang Xuecheng,committed to the exploration of new theoretical breakthrough and research approach,advocate the comprehensively and overall understanding of the development of ancient academic history,looking for new ways of academic research.“Righteousness” and “overall knowledge” in Zhang's academic thoughts is derived from his father and abecedarian---Ke Shaogeng;putting forward “Understanding the ancient thoughts” marks the initial shaping of his thoughts;writing On Literature and History marks its complete formulation;with the purposes of combining Confucian classics,history,philosophy and belles-letters,his writing the General Meaning of Proofread present “collation method” with creation;theory of records,letters and reading-notes collected in Zhang Xuecheng's Posthumous Papers directly manifest his academic thoughts.In terms of its origin,Zhang's academic thoughts deeply rooted in the evolution and development of Chinese ancient academic thoughts,which was originated from the western Han Dynasty.“Create a philosophy of one's own” in Sima Qian's Shiji was most representative one.Put forward in the Nan Dynasty,Liu Xie's academic thought with literature as the core in The Literary Mind and The Carving of Dragons is quite typical.Tang Dynasty experienced a further development,Liu Zhiji's academic thought with history as the core in Shitong was the sign of evolution.Up to Qing Dynasty,Zhang Xuecheng put forward the combination of literature and history,finally forming a relatively complete system of academic thought.The subject of Zhang's academic thoughts is embodied in its claims that the academic achievements of ancient Chinese all should present an organic unity.Among them,he advocated the "six classics and three history,",and the three history was refer to The Book of Songs,the Book of Rites and The Spring and Autumn Annals.The proposal of “Distinguishing the academic chapter,examining the mirror source and course” was treat all the academic achievements as a whole.Through carding the original of traditional Four Studies,Zhang Xuecheng divided ancient Chinese academy into two academic systems as literature and history.The essence of literature and history put forward by Zhang was academy with ancient books and records as its external form.Such thoughts were creative conclusion of “Distinguishing the academic chapter,examining the mirror source and course”.The combination of the Four Studies constitutes the core of Zhang Xuecheng's academic thoughts.In Zhang's academic system,Confucian classics is the direct expression and basic theories of Confucianism;history is the gain and loss of Confucianism values in the past;philosophy and Confucian classics were learn from each other;while belles-letters explained the Confucian core value in popular and easy-to-understand language.By deep investigation on development track and change in thought of ancient Chinese academy,Zhang Xuecheng summarize general evolution rule which followed the principle from less to more and from simple to complex.By means of theoretical thinking on “pure academy”,the essence of ancient Chinese academy “Truth Seeking lies in experience” was promulgated in a more deep way.Achieving mastery through a comprehensive study and “mutual benefits” were the most representative academic methods summarized by Zhang Xuecheng,establishing a relatively complete theoretical system of ancient Chinese academic thoughts.Zhang Xuecheng,in particular,praised such academic standpoint “summarizing the ancient academies” in Shiji,“distinguishing the academic chapter” in Hanshu,“couplet-composing work” in The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons.For the academy in Tang Dynasty,Zhang Xuecheng considered that “there is no unification of academies”,focusing on criticizing the division of ancient academy into four parts in the Suishu·Confucian classics,which was the main reason of academic chaos.He also praised the thought of “rule establishment for academy” in Shitong.What's more,Zhang Xuecheng made his own comments on academy of Song Dynasty and Ming Dynasty and appreciated Zhu Xi's academic attitude.He deemed that excessive textual research is the feature of the Qian-jia School in Qing Dynasty,pointing out that such academic approach,which put the incidental before the fundamental,trapped academy in explanations of words in ancient books and completely ignored the ancients' cardinal principle,discarding the academic spiritual traditions of truth seeking and righteousness understanding.The former has much common with the new historical studies advocated by scholars in recent times in material adoption,general history and professional history;while the latter is of great value in mutual communication with different varieties,which does good to modern academic studies.However,Zhang's academic thoughts have some shortcomings,such as “insufficient deposit” and “excessive single-mind”.In a word,In the development of the ancient Chinese academic history,“Wen Xin Diao Long” from Liuxie,” Shi Tong” from Liu Zhiji,and “Wen Shi Tong Yi” from Zhang Xuecheng are three academic theories which had inheritance relationship,and Zhang Xue cheng's Wen Shi Tong Yi makes the most comprehensive summary of the ancient Chinese academic theory.