THe Sage learning of Li Ao
Date Issued
2014
Date
2014
Author(s)
Lai, Pei-Cheng
Abstract
This dissertation is a study about Li Ao''s thoughts, mainly his concept to “the tao of the sage.” In Mid-T''ang, part of ku-wen（古文） writers, including Li Ao, started to discuss ancient sages, through which they tried to save the political and cultural crises caused by the An-Shi rebellion of 755（安史之亂）; their ultimate goal is to re-establish and revive Confucianism. Tracing how Li Ao learned sages provides a chance to explore this important academic phenomenon, and to indicate the significance of Li Ao in the history of Confucianism.
Chapter One and Two introduce the research background, the structure of this dissertation and Li Ao''s life. Chapter Three focuses on Li''s concept in fu-hsing(復性), which becomes the fundamental part of learning sages. He explained the process of inner cultivation, like ch''eng(誠) and ding(定). Fu-hsing Su also would be a prominent example how Li combined I-ching, Chung-yung, and Ta-hsueh. Chapter Four, with Lun-yu Bi Jie, investigates the significant way Li Ao and Han Yu studing Chinese Classics: pursuing the mind of ancient sages. They regarded the sequence of Four Fields in Confucian( Virtue, Speech, Politics, Art) to be four different levels, and learners could follow this order to close sages. Chapter Five points out that Li''s political thoughts used Confucius and Mencius value to solve the concrete social problems in Mid-T''ang. For instance, P''ing-fu Shu reveals Li''s efforts to apply ancient sages'' thoughts for the taxation reform. Chapter Six investigates three issues: How did Li Ao think about the relationship between wen(文) and tao(道)? What is his standard of wen-chang(文章)? What is his own writing style? All these concern Li''s understanding to the tao of the sage. Han Yu and Li Ao were devoted to integrating jen-yi(仁義) and wen-chang. They believed men comprehend tao through wen; meanwhile, wen-shih(文士) could advocate tao by wen. Chapter Seven and Eight evaluate the position of Li Ao''s thoughts in Confucianism by comparing it with other Confucians’ in Mid-T''ang and reviewing Li''s historical comments.
This dissertation points out “sage learning” will be a meaningful aspect of study to the revival of Confucianism in Mid-T''ang. It is because wen-shih, at that time, discussed issues like hsing-ming(性命), wen-chang, Confucian Classics and political problems in a form of learning sages. Li Ao is a prominent example. The influence of his thoughts can also be found in Song Dynasty; he, in this way, is called one of the forerunners to Neo-Confucian movement.
Subjects
〈復性書〉
《論語筆解》
李翱
聖人
中唐
儒學
Type
thesis
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