On The Confucian Erudition Of The Representatives Of The Dark Learning In The Wei-Jin Periods

In the Wei-Jin periods, Confucianism of the Western and the Eastern Han Dynasties declined, and the Dark Learning began to prevail and flourish. At that time, the scholars and the intellectuals also presented a different image that reversed to the Chinese tradition. They generally advocated Taoism and despised Confucianism, upheld the individual freedom and looked down on the Confucian rites. Hence became an upsurge which was called 'Wei-Jin Demeanor'. In fact, from Han Dynasty to the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the social political structure, which based on the peasant economy and tied by the blood relationship between the family and the clan was not change. Confucianism also played a very important role in the aspect of administering the country in order and running the family in unison. Thus these factors altogether made Confucianism still existed, lasted and developed especially in the complicated atmosphere of the Wei and Jin Dynasties.In fact, most representatives of the Dark Learning in the Wei and Jin Dynasties studied and followed both Confucianism and Taoism. They didn't abandon Confucianism at all. On the contrary, they normally had deep-seated Confucian erudition. They translated Confucian Classics, advocated the mergence of Confucianism and Taoism and paid more attention to the rites of Confucianism. Ji Kang, the famous representative of the Dark Learning, also had solid Confucian erudition. And it especially showed in the aspect of Ji Kang's self erudition, his ethic value, the family education to his son and his idea of loyality.