Shang Bojian Saw The Study Of The Confucian Benevolent Thoughts Of The Pre-Qin Dynasty

Benevolence thought is the core of Confucianism,however,previous studies on the Confucian benevolence thought in Pre-Qin period mostly focused on Confucius or Mencius,with little attention paid on the benevolence thought between Confucius and Mencius,let alone the inherited lineage of the benevolence thought.The present study is carried out based on the bamboo slip of Shanghai Museum and other available documents.After reviewing relevant texts about the benevolence thought in the bamboo slip of Shanghai Museum,this thesis gives a brief introduction about the benevolence thought.Then it illustrates the form and meaning of the ancient Chinese character “ ” and analyzes four characteristics of the benevolence thought in the bamboo slip of Shanghai Museum: regarding benevolence as one of the moral items,judging benevolence based on humanity,the embodiment of benevolence as well as the political practice tendency of benevolence.Next this thesis summarizes the political thought that benevolence is a kind of morality,the cultivation thought that self-cultivation is close to benevolence,the humanity thought that only kindheartedness is similar to benevolence as well as the metaphysical thought that benevolence is related to heaven and man.Finally,it supplements the inherited lineage of the benevolence thought of “Confucius—Zisi—Mencius” and provides a more complex lineage of the benevolence thought between Confucius and Mencius as well as the benevolence thought after the discovery of the bamboo slip of Shanghai Museum.By studying the Confucian benevolence thought in Pre-Qin period,we can see that although the bamboo slip of Shanghai Museum inherits Confucianism,it still has its own characteristics.For example,benevolence is regarded as the supreme morality in Confucianism,while its status declines greatly in the bamboo slip of Shanghai Museum.In addition,the tradition of judging benevolence based on humanity is embodied in the thought of both Mencius and Hsun Tzu.Therefore,the bamboo slip of Shanghai Museum not only inherits and develops the benevolence thought of Confucius,but also lays an ideological foundation for Mencius and Hsun Tzu.