The Study of Zhang Ju-zheng’s Scholarship and his Policy on Prohibition of Academies
Date Issued
2009
Date
2009
Author(s)
He, Wei-xuan
Abstract
In the academic development of the Ming Dynasty, two phenomena were the most important—the rise of the “Yang-Ming Xin Xue ( or “Wang Xue” )” and the prosperity of academies. These two phenomena were interrelated and inseparable from each other. After the 1500s, “Wang Xue,” disseminated through academies, became much more influential and popular. Nevertheless, although “Wang Xue,” a new academic trend, brought illuminating thoughts to the intelligentsia, it caused some negative effects because of the incomplete construction of the theory and the avant-garde and radical characteristics inherent in the theory. Accordingly, some scholars reprimanded and castigated the deviation of “Wang Xue.”n 1579, the Prime Minister Zhang Ju-Zheng ordered that all academies be prohibited. The prohibition was a direct and great set-back to the development of “Wang Xue” in the Ming Dynasty. Was there any conflict between Zhang Ju-Zheng and scholars of “Wang Xue”? What was Zhang’s attitude towards and evaluation of “Wang Xue”? Was the prohibition of “Wang Xue” and academies merely a political event? Or was it intended to persecute scholars? What were the reasons for the suppression of “Wang Xue”? And what was the academic and political influence of the suppression? This thesis aims to discuss why Zhang decided to prohibit or eradicate academies; in my view, his decision was related to his academic thought and to his status as a statesman and scholar. In addition, I will conduct research on the relationship between Zhang Ju-Zheng, Xu Jie, and Gao Gong, which is conducive to the understanding of Zhang from a broad perspective. Last but not least, I will make an overall analysis on all possible reasons for Zhang’s prohibition of academies and the consequence of the prohibition.
Subjects
Zhang Ju-zheng
academies
prohibitation
the Ming dynasty
Wang Xue
SDGs
Type
thesis
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