Tseng Kuo-fan And Taoism

Tseng Kuo-fan,an important high-ranking official of the late Qing dynasty, is the important representative of Chinese traditional literary intelligentsia's,is an essential character who links the preceding with the following.His ideas, words and deeds reflect the distinct characteristics of supplementing Confucianism with Taoism.At the five aspects of entering politics, directing troops, conducting self in society, writing poetry and prose, keeping in good health, this article clears the Tseng Kuo-fan's effort of supplementing Confucianism with Taoism, reveals the status of Taoism in the Tseng Kuo-fan's thought, analyzes the value of how Tseng Kuo-fan's accepting and fulfilling Taoism affected the modern times of ideological trend forms, excavates the significance of supplementing Confucianism with Taoism to the modern China literary intelligentsia's.This paper forms the mode of thinking with consistent with Huang-Lao Taoism after pointing out referencing Huang-Lao Taoism which compatible hundreds of thoughts and Statecraft spirits.The paper demonstrates comprehensive and specific Tseng Kuo-fan's life course of supplementing Confucianism with Taoism from the two levels between in saint and outside king. Not only does the paper think he absorbed nothingness, quiet, the inactivity, Self-oriented Taoism to cultivate the spirit and enlightenment, to pursue mind quiet, tranquility and surpassing. But also from the practical rationality, he was Conscious of absorbing Taoism and using to the government, life skills, running the army, and so on, remedying with insufficiency of Confucianism and obtaining successfully.His political ideal and the ruling practicing contain Confucianism and Huang-Lao Taoism, and also advocate the quietism and inaction. He followed the relationship between strategy processing of male defends female and weak self-contained and high-level, the colleague and the gentleman. In refusing the help, the Nanjing stroving for Credit dispute, bowing to find talented person, candling with the relates with Zuo Zongtang and so on, he all displayed Huang-Lao Taoism. He absorbed the war view which Taoism stands for negation and pity, used flexibly the strategic principles which Taoism stands for softness and stillness, and gradually occupies the initiative in wars. Based on the early preparation of preserving one's achievements to guarantee peace, Tseng Kuo-fan has formed Taoism type of life design in his early life and often mentioned in his life. But for many reasons, after he succeeded, he finally did not quit as he had wished. His prose were deeply affected by Taoism, and given an expression on the boundary, the style, in the language pursue and the prose appreciation. In addition, he paid attention to the spiritual cultivation and maintained mental tranquility, absorbed and fulfilled Taoism theory of keeping in good health.Explored from the development course of Qing Dynasty thinking history, Wang Fuzhi and other people have already criticized Neo-Confucianism with leading Taoism into Confucianism. The annotation of the fine classical Chinese literature scientists to Taoism opens the academic fusion course of using Taoism to supplement with Confucianism insufficient. In order to react the internal disorder and foreign invasion current political situation crisis, Contemporary Chinese literature scientists such as Wei Yuan impel the ideological development of using Taoism. ManyNeo-Confucianism scientists refer from Taoism to mediate Confucianism for the purpose of statecraft. At the same time, in the tradition of Hunan region culture advocate Taoism, the paper further strengthens that Tseng Kuo-fan accepted and used Taoism. Therefore, in the ideological trend of modern China, Tseng Kuo-fan excavated the Taoism connotation and the value, and he becomes the essential character who links the preceding with the following. Analyzing from individual ideology, the main part of Tseng Kuo-fan's ideology is Confucianism without doubt, the secondary part is Taoism, the relatively secondary part is Mohists, Legalism, Military commander and Buddhism and so on, and and these thoughts all pointed the goal with turning toward rescuing the society and settling down. Outside Confucianism, Taoism became the important origin of Tseng Kuo-fan's thought, this also conformed to the China traditional culture development main characteristic. In its ideology, Buddhism's component is extremely light, other like Su Shi et al. He devoted all his life to making up Confucism by the pre-Qin thoughts, especially using Taoism to enter Confucism, and practicing to supplement Confucianism with Taoism both in moral character and in governing.Tracked his the life path, when Tseng Kuo-fan anxiously achieved the life ideal of Confucism, he did not forget pursuing spiritual freedom by getting aid from Taoism, surmounting realistic difficult position. In early period, Tseng Kuo-fan was immersed in the ancient book of Taoism after studied Confucianism classics. When he was an official in Beijing his prose style was obviously influenced by Zhuang-zi, from then time on he was unable to put down Zhuang-zi and in his prose, creation demonstrated was different in Cheng and Zhu Neo-Confucianism style. Tseng Kuo-fan displayed Taoism characteristics at times in military affairs after fighting with his army.In the Xianfeng seventh year to eighth year, when he stayed at home and introspected, he understood again the essence of Taoism , realized the importance and the urgency supplementing Confucianism with Taoism, and further derived from the wisdom of Huang-Lao Taoism, took the initiative to change former procedure. He paid great attention to conquering the unyielding with the yielding, used Taoism to handle each kind of crisis. He benefited a great deal and gradually believed the good effect. So he merged with more thoughts of Taoism for the politics, getting along with people, the prose, keeping in good health theory and practice. After taking control of Nanjing, more than ever he followed Taoism creed of contenting with one's lot and preserving one's achievements guarantees, was open-minded and indifferent to fame or gain point of view facing academic honor life and death. Being excellent both in moral character and in governing, he took Confucianism as a main body, therefore, after he succeeded , he had not been able to draw back the ramble, and did not hesitate to suffer insults, in order to exchange for peaceful environment for the weak country. Finally, he became the"the three forms of immortality"character of Confucianism to commend, which manifested the cultural choice of the majority Chinese tradition literary intelligentsia.