The Research On The Pragmatical Thoughts Of HU Linyi's Neo-Confucianism Theory

HU Lin-Yi is not only one of the founders of the well-known "Xiang Army" in later Qing Dynasty, but also an outstanding representative of the modern Neo-Confucianism characterized pragmatical theory. The research on HU Lingyi is one of the important topics on the historic figure in the later Qing Dynasty. Within the academic field, certain achievements have been made in the recent twenty years, such as the study on his views on politics, economy, military and the related. However, most of these researches only explain and expound on his thoughts in a partial perspective, thus can not conclude the pragmatical nature of his thoughts, which will be dug out in this thesis.The Neo-Confucian and the Hu-Xiang Culture are the main resources for Hu's thoughts. During the course of his official career, Hu gradually formed his own specific thoughts by implementing the value of the Neo-Confucianism social practice. So, to grasp Hu's pragmatical thoughts comprehensively, we have to explore the Neo-Confucian connotation permeated in the social affairs.First of all, this thesis tries to illustrate that the formation of Hu's thoughts is connected to the historical and era connotation. The second part analyses the character of Hu's thoughts through the value of the Neo-Confucianism. Meanwhile it points out Hu's innovations compared to traditional Neo-Confucianism.The third part is the mainstay of this thesis which is divided into four sections and attempts to expound Hu's thoughts in four views: recruitment of talents, administration of officials, management of finance & economics and governance of the army. In terms of the recruitment of talents, Hu trained them with pragmatical thoughts refined from the Neo-Confucianism and Hu-Xiang Culture. On the administration of officials, Hu Lin-Yi advocated that people should try to eliminate those bad habits and follow the good ideas edited in traditional Neo-Confucianism. At the same time, Hu took the principle of democracy and advocated people-raising and people-educating, this developed further the argument of people-centering. On the management of finance & economics, based on the view that the key is to select the right people with upright mind, he advocated developing farming and repressing commerce, disciplining the water transportation affairs and fighting against corruption. Furthermore, he insisted that the people should pay tax, follow the regularities, and be tendered by the government as well. This defends people's interests and breaksthrough the framework of "following god's will and erase personal desires" of the irrational and cruel principle of old Neo-Confucianism. On the governance of army, Hu regulated the advancement rule of officers by their uprightness and courage merits,and the principle of kindly and honestly treatment on subordinates and soldiers. Meanwhile, Hu developed the military strategy view of combination of dynamics and stability, and taking the stability to deal with the dynamics.This thesis breaks through the framework of previous research on Hu, and scrutinizes Hu's thoughts in the pragmatism perspective.