On The Thoughts Of Practical Utility In The Theory Of "Six Confucian Classics Being History"

Zhang Xue Cheng's theory of Six Confucian Classics Being History is a very important academic proposition, in which Zhang Xuecheng's idea of emphasizing statecraft about historical thoughts has been clearly expressed. This paper tries to explain Zhang's thoughts of emphasizing statecraft within two perspectives—the"Six classics"and"History". In our view,"Six Classics"demonstrates the practical purpose of academic research while the"History"demonstrates the means of putting academic research into practice. Therefore, in the"Theory of Six Confucian Classics Being History", the"Six Classics"and"history"have different position and functions . However, at the same time they are also a complete entity, completing the expression of Zhang's idea.The full text is divided into five chapters: The first chapter is a general introduction to the research topic of this article. Zhang Xuecheng's Theory of Six Confucian Classics Being History is a very important theoretical problem. This chapter summarizes present situation of the research and analyzes the shortcomings of previous studies and problems. For the existence of the problem, this text explains the research purposes of this article and writing ideas.The second chapter is a systematic review of the past studies about Zhang Xue cheng's Theory of Six Confucian Classics Being History. The Theory of Six Confucian Classics Being History is the focus of attention in academic field, and many scholars have participated in the discussion of this issue. The previous studies focused on four aspects: 1, the academic origins of the Theory of Six Confucian Classics Being History. The main points include the theory of"Original Idea","Taoism Theory","Wangtong Theory""Yuan Shaoliu,Ban,Jinchengzhedong Ttheory", and the theory of"Further Eerichment". 2, The mutual status of the history and Confucian Classics reflected by The Theory of Six Confucian Classics Being History. There are following theories :'Respecting History and Degrading Classics Theory''Respecting History Theory','Neutral Theory'and the theory of'Respecting History and Classics'".3, The meaning of the word"history"in the theory of Six Confucian Classics Being History. It is defined as"history material","the view of history","historical compilation""composing"and"official historian"by different scholar. 4,The relations among The Theory of Six Confucian Classics Being History,"Song Studies"and"Han Studies". The main opinions are"Corrected Song studies and Han Studies","Critique of Han Studies,"and the"Critique on the'Critique of Han Studies'"In addition, many scholars ,in the discussion of this topic ,also dealt with a slight about the thoughts in the Theory of Six Confucian Classics Being History.Chapter III is the on the practical purposes of academic studies expressed by Zhang Xuecheng . This chapter is a systematic exposition of Zhang's demonstration about the practical purpose of"YI","SHU","JING". Zhang was not to explain the status of the classics and the history by putting forward the Theory of Six Confucian Classics Being History. However, the"Six Classics"is indeed regarded very noble by Zhang, because this is premise of Zhang's argument. A variety of other academic fields should follow the practical pursuit expressed in the thoughts of the"Six Classics".Therefore, in the second chapter, we will deal first with the very high status of the"Six Classics"in Zhang's eyes, and secondly, we will demonstrate the arguments of practical purpose by Zhang in three aspects. That is the practical purpose of metaphysics,history and literature respectively expressed under the terms of"YIJIAO","SHUJIAO"and"SHIJIAO". This is a very powerful illustration of Zhang's academic attitude: the ultimate goal of academic is practical purpose, not others.Chapter IV is practical academic approach discussed by Zhang Xuecheng . This chapter deals with why Zhang regards"history"as an important approach of practical purpose about academic studies and its main contents."History"is a way to practical purpose because it elucidates ideas on concrete things . It can also reverse the direction from Song Studies and Han Studies'weakness and bring the academic studies into the direction of practical purpose. The specific contents are mainly concentrated in the study of local records, advices to authority, teaching people and reversing the academic atmosphere.Chapter V is the Conclusion. It is a summary of the main points in this thesis.