A Record of Ma Yifu

Ma YifuJul 2022

3.1

Word count: 5.3K words
Chapters: 11

Summary

Ma Yifu (1883–1967) was a modern Chinese thinker, poet and calligrapher, and an early representative of Modern New Confucianism. He was the first person in China to introduce the German and English editions of Marx's Das Kapital, and together with Liang Shuming and Xiong Shili he was known as one of the "Three Sages of New Confucianism."

In scholarship he was deeply accomplished in ancient philosophy, Neo-Confucianism, literature and Buddhist studies, integrating Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism into a single whole, and was regarded as a master of Confucianism for his generation. Philosophically, he held that the fundamental spirit of Chinese culture lies in "bringing to light the principles inherent in one's own mind." In Neo-Confucianism, his profound study and personal experience of traditional Confucian culture, especially Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism, were widely recognized by his contemporaries. His "Discourse on Principles and Names" was a new doctrine of principle that Ma Yifu originated himself and could be applied in teaching, an exposition and elucidation of the principles of the "Six Arts."

In calligraphy, he combined zhangcao cursive and Han clerical script into a style of his own, fusing the bearing of Confucianism, the ethereal air of Daoist transcendence and the Buddhist mind of Chan into one, and was a master calligrapher whom Feng Zikai praised as "the leading figure of Chinese calligraphy."

This book is a compilation of notes by the great scholar of Chinese studies, Mr. Ma Yifu.

Editor's review

This book gathers Ma Yifu's related writings under the title "Notes," complementing the biographical volume by focusing more on anecdotal records and the presentation of first-hand materials. For readers, its value lies in experiencing the scholarship and social circles of this representative of Modern New Confucianism through concrete accounts, rather than relying on second-hand summaries. Ma Yifu integrated Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism, held that the fundamental spirit of Chinese culture lies in "bringing to light the principles inherent in one's own mind," and expounded the Six Arts through his "Discourse on Principles and Names"; in these note materials such propositions often appear in more concrete situations, making his scholarly character easier to appreciate. His calligraphy, combining zhangcao cursive and Han clerical script and fusing the bearing of Confucianism, the air of Daoist transcendence and the Buddhist mind of Chan, also offers supporting evidence for understanding his personality. It is best read alongside the biography: first grasp the events and the relationships among figures, then return to the intellectual propositions. Suited to slow reading and note-taking.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who have read a biography of Ma Yifu and wish to supplement it with anecdotal materials
Readers studying the social circles and scholarship of modern academic figures
Readers who enjoy discerning a person's temperament through fragmentary accounts
General readers interested in anecdotes about figures in Chinese studies and calligraphy

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting systematic intellectual exposition or theoretical monographs
Readers who prefer complete narratives and dislike the fragmentary compilation format
Readers with no knowledge of Ma Yifu or the background of modern scholarship

Reading tips

Read the table of contents first to understand the scope of the notes, then read by time or theme rather than evenly from beginning to end.
Read alongside The Biography of Ma Yifu, placing the anecdotal fragments back into the context of his life.
When encountering accounts involving principles or calligraphy, mark them and check relevant background materials.
Read a few entries at a time and then stop to organize the relationships among figures and key events, avoiding an accumulation of fragments.

版权信息
镇海樊氏便蒙两等小学记
新嘉坡道南学堂记
重修绍兴县文庙记
报春亭记
舅父黔中来书追记
先父绝笔追记
会稽马氏皋亭山先茔记
玄亭记
旭光室记
永嘉徐班侯先生灵影记

FAQ

How does this book differ from The Biography of Ma Yifu?

Both books are compilations related to Ma Yifu, but with different emphases: the biography focuses on an overall narrative of his life and scholarship, while this book, under the title "Notes," focuses more on anecdotal fragments and concrete materials. Reading them together is mutually complementary: first use the biography to establish a framework, then use this book to fill in details and situations.

Isn't a fragmentary compilation rather disjointed to read?

There is a certain jumpiness, so it is advisable to first look at the table of contents to grasp the scope, then read by time or theme. Note the relationships among figures and the background of events as you go, and read alongside the biography to place the fragments back into the overall context; the sense of disjointedness will be markedly reduced.

Can I read this book directly without knowing about Ma Yifu?

You can try, but it is advisable to first acquire basic background, such as an overview of Modern New Confucianism and Ma Yifu's main propositions. This book consists of anecdotal materials and lacks systematic exposition; if you are completely unfamiliar, it will be smoother to read an introductory biography or a general history of thought first, then come to this book.

Can the materials in this book be used for academic citation?

This book is a compilation; the source and edition information for specific entries must be based on the physical book. For academic writing, the original sources and editions should be verified, and the compiled text should not be cited directly. It is advisable to use this book as a set of leads, then return to the original documents for confirmation.

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About the author

Ma Yifu Author · Chinese · 1883–1967

Ma Yifu (1883–1967), whose given name was Fu and who used Yifu as his courtesy name and Zhanweng as his literary name, was a native of Shaoxing, Zhejiang. A modern Chinese thinker, philosopher, poet and calligrapher, he was one of the early representative figures of modern New Confucianism and, together with Liang Shuming and Xiong Shili, was known as one of the "Three Sages of New Confucianism." In 1939 he founded Fuxing Academy in Leshan, Sichuan, where he continued to lecture and write. His works combine philosophical reflection with a literary and poetic temperament, often taking the form of lecture records, talks, answers to questions and poetry talks, with closely reasoned argument and elegant, refined language. Works such as Lecture Records of Fuxing Academy, Talks at Taihe and Yishan, Answers to Questions at Erya Terrace and Poetry Talks from the Juanxi Studio embody his exposition of Confucian principles and his continuation of traditional scholarship. The library holds 32 of his works, spanning classics, Eastern philosophy and modern poetry, which shows the enduring influence of his writings on the transmission of modern Confucianism and the study of traditional culture.