Research On Yuan Jiagu’s Confucian Classics Study

In order to respond to the existing disagreements on the cognition and evaluation of Yuan Jiagu’s Confucian classics study as well as to make up the study deficiency of Yuan Jiagu’s Confucian classics study and enrich the typical contents of the study on the history of Yunnan’s Confucian classics study in its infancy,this thesis researches Yuan Jiagu’s Confucian classics study systematically and deeply,summarizes and objectively evaluates its main characteristics and contributions.The main contents and viewpoints of the thesis are as follows:First,Yuan Jiagu’s Confucian classics study mainly began after the Revolution of 1911.Before that,Yuan received the traditional confucian education,and passed the imperial examination of Qing Dynasty and became Jinshi and the Number One Scholar of Economic Special Examination,and then governed at Beijing and Zhejiang Province and held the belief of learning for practice.After that,he focused on academic research and the business of local cuture.It was in this time that his research findings of Confusian Classics had been compiled and completed,and his ideas on Confusian Classics were gradually shaped and evolutionized.During this period,Yuan also completed the transition from Jinshi,the Number One Scholar of Economic Special Examinationl,Qing government official to the university professor.Second,the achievements of Yuan Jiagu’s Confucian classics study mainly include Woxue Tang Collection of Classics,Lecture notes of Yi and Ancient music score of the Book of Songs,including the Five Classics and The Analects of Confucious,Mencius,and Filial piety,especially Good at the interpretation of Yi.His study of Yi is more systematic and complete because one of Yuan’s students ——Yu Naiyi had arranged and published his notes in class.Although many ideas and methods have been innovated in other categories,they are slightly scattered.Third,the main characteristics of Yuan Jiagu’s Confucian classics study include:(1)Focuses on the analysis of the patriotic and time-related themes in the Confucian classics,and shows strong characteristics of the times and nationalism.(2)The modern transformation of Confucian classics study has had a big impact on Yuan Jiagu’s Confucian classics study,and reflects that his study has the characteristics of both traditional and modernity.(3)Yuan Jiagu’s Confucian classics study has an obvious tendency of historiography,and his research methods include the Confucian classics study,historiography,phonology and so on.(4)Having the rigorous style of study with "no credulity and no easy doubt ",and the analysis and evaluation of the Confucian classics and its study,which are always based on historical facts and normalities,especially insisting on the principle of the Confucian classics to make judgements.Fourth,the main contributions of Yuan Jiagu’s Confucian classics study are:(1)in the critical period when the traditional Confucian classics study of modern times have been strongly impacted and the situation of the inheritance of Yunnan Confucian classics study is severe,Yuan still insists on the study of Confucian classics and the cultivation of talents,which plays an important role in passing on the precious knowledge of the sages at Yunnan province which is situated at the south western of China.(2)On the basis of reviewing and summarising the past methods system used by experts on the Confucian Classics Study,Yuan’s findings pointed out the due attitudes and paths in the methods of Confusian Classics Study.It also demonstrated the research theories and methods of "pure classics" which uses only the classic works to study the Confucian Classics and "pure Yi" that uses only the allusions related to Yi classics.(3)In the study of Yi,Yuan focuses on the early classics of Yi,applying his modern philosophy and social science into interpretation and inspection of the work.He illustrated his theories on evolution history of Yi in details and discussed the state of ancient Chinese society,which led to his tremendous innovation in Yi’s theory and study approaches.In addition,Yuan Jiagu also has many viewpoints innovation.On the basis of comprehensively combing and studying the system and contents of Yuan Jiagu’s Confucian classics study,this thesis emphasizes the important role of Yuan’s findings on the passing on the sages’ knowledge to the future generation and serves as a link between the past and present in the history of Yunnan’s Confusian Classics Study.The author also points out the problems and shortcomings of Yuan Jiagu’s Confucian classics study and then makes necessary analysis and inspection on the relevant evaluation of later generations.