A Study On The Hermeneutic Thought Of QinDing SiKu QuanShu Zongmu

Qin Ding Siku Quanshu Zongmu(Imperial Compilation of Four Bibliographic Categories,referred to as Zongmu or Categories in below),acclaiming itself as authoritative in "judging right and wrong of thousands of years and resolving the doubts of hundreds of schools",represents the pinnacle of China’s classical bibliography.Combining comprehensively and systematically the ancient interpretation tradition in China,Zongmu has not only investigated and evaluated various interpretative and annotative works of Jing(Confusion Classics),Shi(Historical Records),Zi(Philosophical Writings),and Ji(Miscellaneous Works)of China’s past dynasties from various angles and levels,but also analyzed and reflected on the development clues,basic concepts and main methods of interpretation tradition in China.Meanwhile,as an authoritative work of cooperation between the government and academia in the Qianlong era,Zongmu has advocated an interpretation concept and paradigm adapting to the contemporary trend and meeting the needs of imperial power as well.Therefore,a systematic and in-depth study of the hermeneutic thought of Zongmu helps not only in understanding the most authoritative and representative hermeneutic thought since the mid-Qing Dynasty,but also in comprehending the underlying spirit and main characteristics of the general interpretation tradition in China,especially those of the classical works.Zongmu has formed its hermeneutic thought in a specific cultural and political background as well as academic context in an era calling for academic and cultural support for the legitimacy and authority of the Manchu and Qing Dynasties,for a further unification in culture and ideology based on that in politics,and for a break through the "dispute between Han and Song schools" with a higher realm beyond the academia of Han-Tang and Song-Ming Dynasties.In return,Zongmu,as an embodiment not only of the will of Emperor Qianlong but also of the highest academic level then,has answered the call from the era by "judging right and wrong of thousands of years and resolving the doubts of hundreds of schools".Among the various aspects of the hermeneutic thought of Zongmu,four theories are most important,namely,hermeneutic virtue,hermeneutic methodology,hermeneutic similarities and differences,and hermeneutic authority,corresponding respectively to the four aspects of hermeneutic activities,namely,the preconditions,interpretative operation,conclusion evaluation and effect influence.The theory of hermeneutic virtue in Zongmu mainly discusses the virtue principles and value norms that interpreters should first follow in their interpretation practices.Based on the interpretation concept dominated by Confucianism in China for a long period of time,Zongmu holds that the interpreter must value the hermeneutic virtue and abide by the basic moral principles and values of “the public world of meaning” “shared” by him and those for whom he upholds obligations and responsibilities,including the author,the works as well as the historical figures in them,together with all interpreters and readers of "future generations".In particular,Zongmu advocates the following hermeneutic virtues,"to manifest the excellence of the author and works with benevolence over harsh comments",“to combat ignorance with learning over selfish prejudice”,"to treat different classes with order over arrogant pride","to preach truth with integrity over deceitful conjecture." According to Zongmu,only by adhering to these hermeneutic virtues can the interpreter truthfully reveals the goodness of the ancients,spread the thoughts of saints and ideas of the predecessors,so as to honor the ancient scholars while benefiting the future ones and to maintain the "morality" and order of the "world".Meanwhile,by wiping off the flaws in his own interpretation and improving his academic accomplishment and moral cultivation,the interpreter can set up his personal and academic image of leniency and fairness,respect for saints,courtesy and credibility for readers and interpreters of "future generations".Therefore,from the perspective of Zongmu,the hermeneutic virtue is not only the prerequisite for reasonable interpretation,but also the legitimate basis for the establishment of interpretation methods,standards and authority.The theory of hermeneutic methodology,put forward under the background of "the dispute between Han and Song Schools",values four methods among the various levels,namely,examining the authenticity of the origin,understanding the original text first,interpreting classics with classics,and sizing up people with reference to the historical situation,among which,the exegetic research method contained in "examining the authenticity of the origin" underlies the hermeneutic methodology of Zongmu while intersecting other interpretation methods.Therefore,the overall principle of the methodology of Zongmu,known as "Han for dominating and Song for supplementing",is based on the method of exegesis and textual research valued by "Han School" in the Qing Dynasty and supplemented by the method of understanding classics with argumentation valued by "Song School",with the latter being subject to the former,or it will be a castle in the air or a tree without roots.Since the "dispute between Han and Song schools" then was a dispute not only on methodology,but also on the interpretation paradigm including academic style and related concepts,by insisting on a paradigm of "Han for dominating and Song for supplementing",Zongmu was in fact trying to put forward a new and more comprehensive interpretation paradigm and academic paradigm,so as to melt the disputes between the two by "listening to both sides impartially” and " embracing all diversities”,to unify the academic schools at that time and throughout the history,and to guide the academic development of the Qing Dynasty to a higher level by integrating the Han-Tang and Song-Ming learning.In Zongmu,the new interpretation paradigm of "Han for dominating and Song for supplementing" was applied to interpretation of not only classical works,but also all other types of text.Judging from the academic development history of the Qing Dynasty,Zongmu has contributed greatly to breaking through the "dispute between Han and Song Schools" and to forming an interpretation paradigm reflecting the academic pursuit in the Qing Dynasty.The theory of hermeneutic similarities and differences,including but not limited to interpretation standards,mainly discusses how to evaluate different interpretations for the same original text.On the one hand,Zongmu justifies the specific differences among the various interpretations for the same origin owing to the unique understanding of each interpreter.According to Zongmu,"with his own understanding in reading,an interpreter,so long as he has unique opinions,doesn’t have to interpret the same as any other or even the author does",so "he can be justified with his original thoughts",and it’s not necessary to "limit all interpreters to a unanimous interpretation".On the other hand,on the basis of learning and practice,Zongmu undoubtedly emphasizes the general “axiom” governing the self-justification of individual interpreters and opposes the interpretation with no practical value or even contrary to Confucian thoughts.That is to say,while there can be diversified interpretations of specific views,there should be an underlying spirit of consistent public values,especially Confucianism-oriented values.In this way,the proposition of similarities and differences ensures different interpretations being "inclusive" to avoid parochial disputes or school disputes and led through "different paths" to "the same goal" with "consistency" in a unified world of meaning and culture in spite of "various considerations".Therefore,this theory of hermeneutic similarities and differences in Zongmu,as the implementation and refinement of the theory of hermeneutic virtue,by inheriting and developing the traditional concepts such as "opinions differ with individuals" and “diversified paths lead to the same goal”,reflects the needs of the Qing Dynasty in pursuing the unification of cultures,and ideology in particular.The theory of hermeneutic authority mainly constructs and demonstrates interpretive and critical authority of its own and also contains a universal theoretical proposition.Zongmu claims that,while "judging right and wrong of thousands of years and resolving the doubts of hundreds of schools",its conclusion,summarizing the gains and losses of the works of previous dynasties,is authoritative with“supreme fairness" and "supreme righteousness".In order to construct and demonstrate its authority,Zongmu has adopted the interpretation strategies of"interpreting Manchu culture and Western culture with Chinese culture".Furthermore,it has put forward a New Taoist Orthodoxy with the principles of "Only saints can understand saints",naming the four emperors in the early Qing Dynasty as real "Saints" and successors of orthodoxy after Confucius and Mencius,so as to justify Emperor Qianlong as not only the highest political authority,but also the highest academic authority,with Zongmu itself,compiled under the "holy judgment"of Emperor Qianlong,symbolizing his highest academic authority.Although the construction and demonstration of its hermeneutic authority in Zongmu is quite ingratiating,exaggerated,misrepresented and arbitrary,it has indeed broken the hermeneutic authority of Cheng-Zhu Neo Confucianism and even Confucianism in the Han Dynasty,and indirectly conveyed a universal theoretical proposition that the real hermeneutic authority must,as the Saints did,strive to eradicate personal bias,“melt parochial prejudice”,and treat the interpretive view of "each and every interpreter" with supreme "fairness","righteousness",and "inclusiveness".In this way,the theory of hermeneutic authority echoes and connects with the former theories of hermeneutic virtue,hermeneutic methodology and hermeneutic similarities and differences in the overall spirit and fundamental principles.Generally speaking,the hermeneutic thought of Zongmu has not only inherited the basic spirit,concepts,principles and main methods of Chinese ancient hermeneutic tradition,but also summarized,integrated and developed these thoughts.As a result,it has provided not only the development direction and the most authoritative theoretical basis for the Qing Dynasty to eliminate the parochial opposition,to surpass the existing authority and to move towards a higher academic realm with a more comprehensive hermeneutic paradigm but also theoretical support for the legitimacy and authority of the Qing Dynasty,contributing greatly to the unification in culture and thought along with its unification in politics.From today’s standpoint,the hermeneutic thought of Zongmu also has its internal contradictions and limitations,which are mainly reflected in four aspects.First,the basic position of completely taking the imperial power of the Manchu and Qing Dynasties as the center actually violates the consistent tradition of Confucianism.Second,the position of completely taking the Confucian tradition as the center actually restricts the innovation and development of Confucianism.Third,the excessive emphasis on "interpreting western culture with Chinese culture" and "Western scholarship originates from China" also restricts the in-depth exchange and mutual reference between Chinese and Western cultures.Fourth,although Zongmu advocates the interpretation method and paradigm of "Han for dominating and Song for supplementing" and strives to "embracing all diversities",it is actually excessively influenced by "Han school" and relatively despises the contribution of "Song school",especially the emphasis of "Song school" on moral cultivation.As an authoritative work that comprehensively sorts out and systematically summarizes the Chinese ancient interpretation tradition,Zongmu shows in particular that Chinese ancient interpretation tradition is actually dominated by Confucianism,containing intense value orientation and political connotation,undertaking consciously the function of guiding the academic development and maintaining the social value system and order together with the function of reflecting or verifying the legitimacy and authority of politics and governance.Furthermore,Zongmu enlightens us that it requires an interpretation thought to fully inherit the ancient tradition as well as adapting to the contemporary trend,meet the needs of academic realm as well as that of social politics,and develop a compatible pattern of"embracing all streams to the tide" and "incorporating all diversities” with the spirit of "supreme fairness","supreme righteousness" as well as the courage and ability of"melting bias" if it is to truly guide the academic direction and eventually grow as the mainstream of the society.