A Research On Li Guangjin

Li Guangjin(1549-1623)was a famous scholar in Quanzhou in the middle and late Ming Dynasty.He won the first place in provincial imperial examinations in 1585,but never the highest imperial examinations,though he tried many times.The view that Li Guangjin gave up when he first failed the highest imperial examinations is wrong.In fact,Li was a representative figure who trapped in imperial examinations based on eight-part essays.Even though,Li did not hate the eight-part essays,instead,he was intreast in composing eight-part essays.The view that he hated the eight-part essays is not correct.His eight-part essays were well reviewed by later scholars.We can tell the dexterous style through the five eight-part essays collected in the book Wen Ling Xian Zheng Wen Cang(A collection of eight-part essays of former scholars of Quanzhou).In a social background of imperial examinations towarding rigidity and publishing industry towarding commercialization,Li Guangjin had participated in the publishment of eight-part essays.The view that publishment of Fangshu was Initiated by Li is not correct,however,the fact that he participated in the publishment of eight-part essays very early and the works have certain social influence is sure.The refaces he wrote for the collected works of eight-part essays are concentrated embodiments of his theory of eight-part essays.Besides eight-part essays,Li was also good at ancient Chinese proses,most of his ancient Chinese proses were collected in Jing Bi Ji and Li Zhongyi Xian Sheng Qing Yuan Dong Wen Ji.His proses were influenced by eight-part essays deeply,and also,had high documental values.Li Guangjin also had certain academic achievements,but they should not be exaggerated,Yi Jing Qian Ji and Zhong Yong Yi Shuo were written for imperial examinations,the so-called the school did not exist.By comparison,his academic achievements on Zhuang Zi were much higher.But the book Nan Hua Fu Jie has been lost,we can only see some quoted passages in some other books.But all these quoted passages should be distinguished,some of them are not written by Li Guangjin.Only the book Nan Hua Jing Hui Jie saved most Inner part of Nan Hua Fu Jie.Through this part,we can tell the feature of Li’s study on Zhuang Zi: annotation Zhuang Zi through Zhuang Zi,Buddhism and Inner Alchemy.