Old Studies In The Tang Dynasty - A The Xuanying, Li Rong, Emperor, Guangting "tao Te Ching" Commentaries For The Cases

With an analysis on some important works of Lao Tse抯 Philosophical school, this thesis intends to explore the originality of the great work of Lao Tse, instead of exemplifying Lao抯 theory and his philosophical ideas. Four chapters are included in this thesis. Chapter One mainly contains an introduction to the current situation of Lao抯 study, the purposes of conducting this research, and the aims to achieve, and new ideas put forward by the author. In addition, it also entails the approaches that the author applies in his research to trace the cultural background of the development of Taoism, Buddhism, and Laoism in Tang dynasty and the correlative impact between them. Chapter Two focuses on Essays on Lao ~ Work written by Cheng Xuanying in order to identify the three features of his ideas of Laoism. First, he transfers people抯 interpretation of Laoism from the bookish and abstract principles into practical concrete approaches. Second, he negates the traditional conception on Lao Tse抯 揟ao?as 揟o be? or?not to be? or 搉either to be or not to be? Further more, he classifies Lao抯 Tao into two categories. Third, in terms of the theories of self-exaltation, he rejects the hermitic style and advocates the way to improve oneself in different contradictions of life. His theories establish a theoretical basis for the development of Taoism and Mentalism. Chapter Three, focusing on Notes on Lao Tse witten by Li Rong, identifies him as a transitional figure in the period from early Tang Dynasty to the mid-Tang Dynasty, in which Laoism experienced a change from Cheng抯 concepts to a more political interpretation. The emperor Tang Xuanzhong holds a unique understanding on Laoism, which is characterized by the feature of 揋ui Wu? He also provides further explanation to the birth and evolution of the universe put forward by He Shanggong and Wang Mi, specifying how universe is born out of contradictory powers. His theories are more concrete than those of Cheng Xuanying抯. Furthermore, he absorbs ideas from Confucianism into his theories to meet the demand of the ruling power, which imprints his Laoism with a mark of Monarchy. Chapter Four explores The emperor Tang Xuanzhong抯 Laoism, which is characteristic of political color. In his Notes on Lao Tse, he absorbs all the ideas concerning with the emperors?politics. ma sense, he tries to resort to his essays to express his political opinions. One example can be found from his reiteration of all those 搒acred, intellectuals, man?in Lao Tse as 揈mperer? Another example is that he frequently mentions the terms such as 揺mperor, the ruler of men?in his discussion. The third evidence is that he distorts the essence of Laoism by explaining them as the theories of governing. In addition, his theory is also characteristic of the integration of Confucianism and Taoism. He makes Confucianist explanation of Lao抯 ideas that are not consistent with the ideas of iii / DOCTORAL D SSERTAT ION Confucianism. Such indexes and explanations reveal the utilitarian feature of Tan Xuanzhong抯 Laoism. Chapter Five makes a careful study on Du Guang Ting抯 great work: Essays on Lao Tse. Du抯 chief contribution to Laoism in Tang Dynasty lies in his comprehensive summary of all the important ideas on Laoism in and before Tang Dynasty. Besides, he restates the principles of go...