Original Confucianism

Name: Original Confucianism
ISBN: 9787532591046

Xiong ShiliShanghai Classics Publishing House · ChinaJan 2021

4.3

Word count: 300K words
Chapters: 19
ISBN: 9787532591046

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Summary

Original Confucianism, in two volumes, is Xiong Shili's representative work on Confucian thought and consists mainly of three essays: "On the Origin of the Scholarly Tradition", "On the Origin of Outer Kingship", and "On the Origin of Inner Sageliness". Taking such Confucian classics as the Book of Changes, the Spring and Autumn Annals, the Evolution of Rites, and the Zhou Offices as its basis, and integrating the teachings of Buddhism, Daoism, the School of Names, Mohism, and Legalism, the book combines comprehensive examination and analysis to uncover the purport and content of Confucius's political and ethical thought, giving traditional Confucianism new life.

Editor's review

Original Confucianism is an important philosophical work into which Xiong Shili poured his energies in his later years, and it is the concrete unfolding and deepening of his "New Consciousness-Only" thought system in the interpretation of Confucianism. The book is not a simple textual investigation or commentary on traditional Confucianism; rather, with a philosopher's insight it seeks to probe directly the fundamental spirit of Confucianism—the true meaning of "originating" Confucianism. Taking his profound grounding in Buddhism and Western learning as a reference, and through subtle readings of such classic texts as the Great Learning, the Doctrine of the Mean, and the Commentary on the Book of Changes, Xiong Shili strives to expound the metaphysical foundation of the Confucian way of inner sageliness and outer kingship. He stresses the core ideas of the non-duality of substance and function and the non-duality of nature and cultivation, holding that true Confucianism is a philosophy of life that is ceaselessly generative and vigorously strong, aimed at upholding human moral subjectivity and creativity. Against the background of the tremendous impact on traditional Chinese culture in modern times, Original Confucianism represents Xiong Shili's serious effort to reconstruct the Confucian philosophical ontology and continue the cultural bloodline. Its thought is abstruse, its argumentation meticulous, its language condensed, and it is full of speculative power and vitality. Reading it not only allows a deeper understanding of Xiong Shili's own philosophical system but also, through his perspective, a reexamination of the modern value and enduring significance of Confucian thought. For readers intent on exploring the fundamental questions of Chinese philosophy, it is an indispensable classic.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with a strong interest in Chinese philosophy, especially Confucianism, who wish to engage in systematic and philosophical inquiry
Scholars of modern and contemporary Chinese intellectual history and philosophy, and students in related fields
Readers who already have a preliminary understanding of Xiong Shili's "New Consciousness-Only" philosophical system and wish to study its concrete application
Thinkers seeking spiritual resources in traditional culture and reflecting on the conditions of modern human existence and the grounds for living

Not a good fit for

Beginner readers wholly unfamiliar with traditional Chinese classics and philosophical concepts who seek quick, accessible conclusions
Readers interested only in Confucian historical anecdotes, biographies, or ritual institutions who find deep philosophical speculation difficult

Reading tips

Some basic knowledge of the history of Chinese philosophy is recommended; one may first survey the general outline of pre-Qin Confucianism and Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism
It is helpful to have at hand such original texts as the Great Learning, the Doctrine of the Mean, and the Book of Changes for comparison with Xiong Shili's interpretations
The book is highly speculative; there is no need to read quickly—it suits quiet, close reading and repeated pondering, with thoughts and questions noted down at any time

About the publisher

Shanghai Classics Publishing House China · Founded in 1956

Shanghai Classics Publishing House is a professional publisher centered on the collation of ancient texts and academic research works. Its publishing areas cover historical readings, classical poetry, folk literature, literary appreciation, canonical works, and Eastern philosophy. Its books include Chen Yinke's A Brief Discussion of the Origins of the Sui and Tang Institutions, Xin Qiji's Chronological Annotated Edition of Jiaxuan's Ci (Simplified Edition), Tang Xianzu's The Peony Pavilion, Liu Xie's The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons, as well as New Annotations to Three Hundred Tang Poems (Collector's Edition), Annotated Edition of Han Changli's Collected Works (Simplified Edition, 3 volumes), and Youyang Zazu. Its authors include Chen Yinke, Xin Qiji, Tang Xianzu, Liu Xie, Deng Guangming, Hengtang Tuishi, Han Yu, and Ma Qichang. In terms of publishing characteristics, the house emphasizes collation, annotation, and compilation of ancient texts alongside academic research works, and continues to issue simplified and collector's editions that balance scholarship and accessibility. Public information about the publisher's fuller publishing profile is limited.

版权信息
“十力丛书”出版缘起
题记
原儒再印记
原儒序
上卷
绪言第一
原学统第二
原外王第三
下卷
原内圣第四
附录
六经是孔子晚年定论
汉书艺文志尚书古文经四十六卷
答友人
答友人
答谷神老人
答田慕周
答刘公纯

FAQ

What is the relationship between Original Confucianism and Xiong Shili's earlier New Treatise on Consciousness-Only?

Original Confucianism is the concrete application and unfolding of the philosophical system of New Treatise on Consciousness-Only in the field of Confucianism. New Treatise on Consciousness-Only constructed the cosmological and mind-nature framework of the non-duality of substance and function and of transformation through opening and closing, while Original Confucianism uses this framework to reinterpret the Confucian classics, aiming to reveal the life ontology and moral practice theory inherent in Confucian thought and consonant with this framework; it may be regarded as a work of "returning to the root and opening the new" within his philosophical system.

What is the background and main purpose of this book?

The book was completed in the 1950s, when Chinese society and culture were undergoing drastic change. Xiong Shili felt keenly that the vital thread of traditional cultural spirit was in danger of being cut, so he wrote this book to "originate" (investigate and restore) the fundamental meaning of Confucian thought, to refute contemporaries' misunderstandings and criticisms of Confucianism, and to try to prove, from the height of philosophical ontology, that Confucian thought possesses an inner vitality and universal value that transcend its age, thereby seeking a solid foundation for national culture.

What are the main difficulties encountered in reading this book?

The main difficulties lie in its distinctive system of philosophical concepts (such as substance and function, nature and cultivation, opening and closing) and its highly condensed, tension-filled classical Chinese style of expression. In addition, Xiong Shili develops his argument in dialogue and debate with Buddhism, Western learning, and the various currents of thought of his time; without relevant background knowledge, understanding the target and depth of his argument poses a certain challenge. Reading aided by his biography and related studies is recommended.

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About the author

Xiong Shili Author · Chinese · 1885–1968

Xiong Shili (1885–1968) was a native of Huanggang, Hubei, and a renowned modern Chinese philosopher and thinker. He is regarded as the philosophical founder of the contemporary New Confucian movement and is honored as its pioneer. In his early years he joined the anti-Qing revolution; later he abandoned politics for scholarship, studied Buddhism under Ouyang Jingwu, and taught for many years at Peking University. He created his own “New Consciousness-Only” system, advocating the non-duality of substance and function and the transformation of opening and closing. His writings integrate Buddhist terminology with Confucian thought, combining dense argumentation with a vigorous style. His works include New Consciousness-Only, Original Confucianism, On Substance and Function, and Qiankun Yan, and they have had a profound influence on modern Chinese philosophy and Confucian studies.