A Study Of Confucian Esteeming Thoughts In The Pre-Qin Dynasty

This article takes the sages' thoughts in Pre-Qin as the main study object.Through compiling of scholars' literature in Pre-Qin,the study,has analyzed the sages' thoughts in Pre-Qin,which focus on sages' requests for rulers,peaceful demise and revolution.At the same time,it compares the thoughts that we need respect sages,Confucian scholars and other philosophers' thoughts within Confucians'scholars with the standard that we should recommend sages to the government.Consequently,we can better understand the difference and diversification of the Confucian scholars' thoughts in Pre-Qin.This article is mainly divided into six parts.The first part of the introduction briefly reviews the significant research progress these days about Confucian thoughts that we should respect sages.Based on the review,we pointed out that there are issues that need to be further discussed in the past research,which is recognized as the starting point for further study.The second part mainly includes the research on the meaning of "Xian" in Pre-Qin and points out that the meaning of "Xian" maybe consist of virtue and talent.At the same time,it pointed out that the thoughts that we should respect sages include two major aspects:respect for sages and demise.Respect for sages consists of three aspects which include recommending sages,sages' requests for rulers and ways of becoming a sage.The third part mainly sorts out Confucius' thoughts on respect for sages and attitude towards demise.lt shows that Confucius thoughts about respect for sages mainly focus on limitations for rulers.Recommending sages proposes that we need break the barrier between different classes.However,Confucius hasn't suggested any ideas related to peaceful demise.The fourth part mainly explains Mencius thoughts on respect for sages.Firstly,it points out that Mencius thoughts on respect for sages are based on theory of human nature and the rule of heaven.Secondly,on the basis of compiling of the thoughts of Zisi and Mencius,we point out the similarities and differences between Zisi and Mencius.In the fifth part,the study comprehensively reorganize the Xunzi's thoughts of respect for sages,pointing out that Xunzi's idea of courtesy runs through Xunzi's thoughts of respect for sages,which can help us understand the Xunzi's criticism of other scholars.At the same time,on the basis of compiling of Xunzi's attitude towards demise and revolution,it points out the similarities and differences between Xunzi,Zisi and Mencius on issues of demise and revolution.In the sixth part,the study uses the comparative method which compare the thoughts among Zisi,Mozi,Xunzi,and Han Feizi,so as to clarify the differences between Confucian scholars and other schools of thoughts.At the same time,on the basis of comparison,we can sum up the similarities in respect for sages and the characteristics of moral virtue in Pre-Qin.The seventh part mainly describes the influence of respect for sages on traditional society.The thought has shaped the culturally national character and had a significant effect on system of selecting talents afterwards.