The Political Thought of Emperor Song Huizong's Imperial Commentary on Dao De Zhen Jing
Resource
政治科學論叢, 53, 95-120
Journal
政治科學論叢
Journal Issue
53
Pages
95-120
Date Issued
2012-09
Date
2012-09
Author(s)
Yuan, Y.H.
Abstract
The history of thought in the Song Dynasty is strongly associated with the development of neo-Confucianism. However, when we examine the development of thought between the Song and Tang dynasties, we also need to consider the roles of Daoism, and Buddhism. At the same time, the Song Dynasty is divided into two periods, with Song Confucianism especially developed during the Southern Song Dynasty while the Northern Song period acted as a mediator between the Song and Tang dynasties, with a period of contention between different schools of thought. When we examine discourses from the Song Dynasty in detail, when find that following struggles between the three schools, although doctrinal judgment still existed, there was an effort to create dialogue and produce a system that integrated the three schools in the private and public realm. However, differences in methods and perspectives lead to distinctions between the New School, Su School, Shu School, and Luo School. In this atmosphere, the different schools applied their own interpretations to the classics, including the Dao De Jing. Emperor Huizong’s Imperial Commentary on the Dao De Jing set the tone for the renewed focus on Laozi in the Northern Song. On the one hand, Emperor Huizong raised the status of the Dao De Jing to a classic above criticism. On the other hand, Emperor Huizong used his official authority to determine how the Dao De Jingwas interpreted. Emperor Huizong’s commentary, aside from its analysis of the moral principles of the Dao De Jing, also reflects the intellectual interests and atmosphere of its time, including spiritual problems and how rulers met the challenges of contending thoughts. In this, Emperor Huizong describes the “figure of the saint” under heaven who cultivates his own moral character and rules the country. However, due to Emperor Huizong’s indulgences in arts and religion and the eventual end of the Song Dynasty shortly after his death, recent research have seen the Imperial Commentary on the Dao De Jing as a symbol of imperial inaction. This view is now worth reassessing.
Subjects
宋代老子學、宋徽宗、新學、心性`御解道德經；Dao, Studies of Laozi’s Philosophy in Song Dynasty, Song Emperor Huizong, Laozi
Type
journal article
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