Study On Chen Jingyuan’s Taoism Philosophy Thought

Chen jingyuan is a famous Taoist in the middle-age of North Song Dynasty. He is an important person of Chen Tuan School, and has a high place in Taoism history. The academic circle starts to pay attention to his thoughts, but don’t fully expand. Based on the previous results, this paper tries to show important significance of Cheng jingyuan on the historical course of thoughts in North Song Dynasty by explain his thoughts through philosophical and historical methods.This thesis comprises five parts. The introduction discusses Chen jingyuan’s life story, his friends and writings. Chen jingyuan undertakes responsibilities consciously to develop Taoism, teaches Laozi and Zhuangzi in the capital of North Song Dynasty, and make friends with some renowned scholar-officials. He revises some Taoism scriptures and writes books diligently which makes contribution to Taoism. Then, the author makes a brief instruction of present achievements and based on this to confirm the contents and methods of this paper.The chapter one illustrates the origin of Chen jingyuan’s Taoism philosophy thoughts. He show his principles of annotation which is "according to masters and simply analysis past scholars" in the preface of Moral Classics annotation. He inherits philosophy of The Tao Chia which develops three stages the theory of Laozi and zhuangzi, Huang-lao and Wei Jin metaphysics, absorbs Chongxuan theory and Taoism philosophy of Chen Tuan and Zhang wumeng, reduces the concept and contents of Buddhism consciously to construct his own theory system which comprises three parts: Tao theory, Nature and Life theory and Managing Country theory.The chapter two discusses Chen jingyuan’s theory of Tao. Chen jingyuan summarizes the main contents of Tao theory before North Song, thinks that Tao can been divided into Ordinary Tao which cannot be said and Special Tao which can be saido Ordinary Tao as Tao-ti has characteristics of natural and feeling endless among the world. Chen jingyuan who explains Ordinary Tao through four counterpart concepts Ti-yong, Xu-shi, Ji-gan and You-wu holds that Tao is recognized as transcendental existence that Ti-yong should be in mutual dependence, Ji-gan melts in one body, Xu-shi makes fluency and You-wu combines each other. On Generate and Change theory, Tao and Qi as a origin and ultimate noumenon determined change of all things. Chen jingyuan inherits and modifies Guo Xiang’s theory of Individualization, thinks that the change of all things are non-restraint and happens on its own, but this just because of Qi which is intangible. The generation and change of all things has no limits, when time and conditions are mature. Also, things without sentiments can change into things has sentiments, and vice versa. Chen jingyuan’s theory of Generation and Change aims to make people percept the whole nature, practice active substance in vivo and return to Tao. On theory of Tao and Thing, Chen jingyuan thinks that Tao and Thing is fundamental different. Thing is limit, Tao is limitless. However, Tao which should depend on Thing can assure itself, Thing which must depend on Tao has active functions. Tao and Thing are mutual dependence. Chen jingyuan also inherits Chongxuan Theory of Li to emphasis Li is fundamental and Thing is incidental, but Li and Thing is unified. The theory of Tao and Thing, Li and Thing show Chen jingyuan’s understanding of the relation between essence and phenomenon.The chapter three expounds Chen jingyuan’s theory of Nature and Life. Chen jingyuan substitutes early Taoism concepts of Body and Mind to Nature and Life as the main object of cultivation. Nature has two different meanings:Born Nature and Physical Nature. Born Nature that is a transcendent basis, embodies in human from Tao. However, because of the differences in Qi result in the different realities of human nature and everyone has different understanding of Tao. Life also has two different meanings:Circumstance Life and Body Life. Circumstance Life that everybody cannot escape means that rich or poor, high or low, moral human relations and everything people encountered. But Body Life which constitutes by Qi can be controlled by ourselves. Therefore, Chen jingyuan thinks that we must take off the burden of Thing, change external but not change internal, keep inner peace for the premise of cultivation. Then, change the limit of Body Life and Physical Nature to Tao and strike for immortality.The chapter four discusses Chen jingyuan’s theory of Managing Country. Chengjingyuan put emphasis on Taoism’s principle of governing by noninterference and Guo xiang’s theory of Xing to require monarch and subject comply their own nature and not surpass. On the way of managing country, he holds that ruling the country must abide by Tao and thoughts of Confucianism as supplementary, and thus can keep the country peace automatic. All the same time, Chen jingyuan inherits traditional Taoism concept of Heave and Tao to supervise monarch and subject and maintain the country orderly.The chapter five points out Chen jingyuan’s theory influence. Chen jingyuan’s theory has a profound influence on Taoism and Confucianism of North Song. Taoism has a transition between Tang and Song Dynasty. Taoist elixir making starts to decline and Taoist active substance in vivo is prosperous. Chen jingyuan participates in the transition of Taoism, and bring about "The theory of Taoism change abruptly". On one hand, He reverse the direction of Laozi’s theory in Taoism through annotate over-politically since Tang xuanzong. On the other, he summarize the methods of Cultivation systemally that promote Chongxuan theory in Tang Dynasty to Taoist active substance in vivo in Song Dynasty and cause Taoist active substance in vivo to outshine others in Song Dynasty. Moreover, Chen jingyuan communicate with Confucian Wang anshi School, Si maguang, Shu School to talk and dialogue each other, make Confucianism thriving in Song Dynasty.