Confucian purism and Han Learning: Hui Dong's commentary on Taishang Ganyingpian

Abstract This thesis examines Hui Dong’s commentary on Taishang Ganyingpian. Under the influence of Confucian purism, writing a commentary on a Daoist morality book seems improbable for Hui Dong, the most influential scholar of Confucian Classical learning in mid-Qing China. On the contrary, I argue that Hui’s commentary can be analyzed to illustrate the profound impact of Confucian purism and Han learning. First, a close examination of Taishang Ganyingpian and its prototype indicates that they contain a great number of Confucian elements despite its Daoist origins. The major divergence between Hui Dong and Song scholars is hidden behind the similar ethical codes. I argue that driven by Confucian purism, in the commentary Hui sought to exclude heterodox texts such as Buddhist Sutras and Neo-Confucian texts. He reaffirms the ethical values in the treatise with quotations from the Confucian Classics. They are now authenticated as Confucian values uncontaminated in Hui’s purist view. Hui Dong also adopted Han scholars’ idea to explain the core concept “ganying” of Taishang Ganyingpian, which shows a major divergence from Song scholars. By studying Hui’s commentary, we can gain a better understanding of the impact of Confucian purism and Han learning on Hui Dong’s scholarship and moral values beyond Classical learning.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

East Asian Studies

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2020

Author dc:creator

• Du, Patrick

Contributors dc:contributor

• Chow, Kai-Wing
• Shao, Dan
• Chen, Jingling

• Confucian pursim
• Han Learning
• Morality book

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2020 Patrick Du

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/108647

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F108647