Philosophical Studies On The Dispute About The Current And Old Editions Of The Great Learning

The evolution of the version of The Great Learning was affected by the historical background,which was related to the need of Confucians responding to the development of Buddhism and Taoism,and it was inseparably linked to the temperament of the interpreter himself.Inheriting the thoughts of Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao,Zhu Xi revised The Great Learning and wrote the current version to The Great Learning,which formed the path of “Classics Separation from Biography ”,“ Three Principles and Eight Items” and “Learn to Become Virtuous”.The core was“GE WU ZHI ZHI”,so as to realize the goals of “Investigation of Things and Learn Truth”,“Extension of Knowledge”.This was a great contribution of Zhu Xi's commentary to the version since the Han and Tang dynasties,and it was also the core of his own theoretical system.Therefore,“GE WU ZHI ZHI” had became an issue that cannot be evaded when The Great Learning was revised.In the Ming Dynasty,Wang Yangming took individual sensibility as the starting point,and advocated that The Great Learning should be reverted to ancient version.He emphasized“Modification of mind” and “Inducing by Conscience” of “GE WU ZHI ZHI”,which formed “Inward Pursuit” different from Zhu Xi's “Outward Extension to Li Theory”.Around the core “GE WU ZHI ZHI”,this thesis made the philosophical analysis based on the controversy between Zhu Xi's Neo-Confucianism and Yang Ming's philosophical interpretation system.This thesis consisted of three chapters.The first chapter analyzed theoretical basis of core point of dispute between current and ancient version: “GE WU ZHI ZHI”.And it also explained the connotation of Zhu Xi and Yang Ming's “Mind”“Humanity” and “Li” involved debate of the philosophical ontology between Zhu Xi's“Humanity is Li” and Yang Ming's “Mind is Li”.The second chapter briefly combed the explanations of scholars in the past time about the theory of “WU” and “GE” in both current and ancient version of The Great Learning and explained and compared their work and directions.It pointed out that “Investigation of Things and Learn Truth” and “Modification of mind” were the biggest difference of their work.The third chapter also briefly clarified and discussed the interpretation of the “ZHI” and“ZHI”of The Great Learning by scholars of different generations.Finally,the overall summary was carried out.