Guodian Confucian Scholars And Saints View

In 1993,a group of Chu bamboo slips in the Warring States period were found in Guo Dian,Jingmen,Hubei Province.Since its acconuntments to the world in May 1998,many experts,after careful analysis and arrangement,had confirmed that more than 10 essays belonged to Confucian classics,and the author was Zisi.Among them,many texts had described Confucian sage view,by which way the thought of Confucian ethics were displayed.Confucian idea of the Chu bamboo slips at Guodian claimed “Internal benevolence and external justice”,“the Way of Loyatyl and Trust”,emphasized the importance of “rule of virtue”.As the most important representative and the greatest teacher,Confucius’ view on sage was self-discipline and stabilizing others,bestow liberally to the masses;As the secondary sage,Mencius followed Confucius’ thought and claimed the theory of original goodness of human nature creatively,putting forward four-extremes and four-heart,expanding the team of the sages,he regarded that sages shall cultivate one’s heart and foster his moral character,so as to achieve the purpose of the enlightenment;Xunzi advocated the theory of evil human nature,but he also proposed“to change one’s character by ritual made by man”,so his view of sage were characterized by ceremony and legislation,classification of human and things,and the unity of moral knowledge and practice,in order to achieve the ultimate effect of both sages and king.The thesis will focus on the comprehensive analysis and studies of Confucian views on sage based on documents in Chu bamboo slips at Guodian,by comparing with the sage view made by the three major representatives,namely Confucius,Mencius and Xunzi,in order to made readers understand the basic content,the historic development and the features of Guodian Confucian sage view.The thesis aimed to expand the research field of Confucian view of sage.This thesis will focus on the generalization of Confucian sage review during pre-Qin periods,and comprehensive study and detailed analysis of Guodian Confucian sage view.By comparing with the exposition of Confucius,Mencius and Xuncius,the thesis will give a systematical,complete description and analysis on Confucian view of sage.Thus,the thesis will be divided into four chapters:The First Chapter will analyze the sage views from the period of Yao,Shun,Yu to Xia,Shang and Zhou Dynasties.We will discuss how the ancients understood sage in different periods respectively,by which way a theoretical basis will be laid for our theme: the Confucian view of Guodian slip;the Second Chapter will choose four parts in the Guodian Confucian slip to analyze the viewpoint of sage in a detailed way;the Third Chapter will give a comprehensive research on the view of sage in Guodian Confucian slip,we will emphasize on the analysis of human basis,moral realm and the strategy to administer a state;the Fourth Chapter will compare Guodian Confucian slip’s view of sage with Mencius and Xun Zi,highlighting the form and imagine of the sage in Mencius and Xun Zi.As a bridge between Confucius and Mencius,the sage view of Guodian Confucian played an important role in the development of Confucian sage view.It was of great significance to carry forward the traditional Chinese culture and strengthen the ideological and moral construction for the present society.