The Philosophy Huainanzi Study

The formation of Huai-nan Zi was a result agitated by philosophers' thoughts from the society of early Western Han Dynasty to the middle. The core change of its theory was embodied on the theme which revolved around realistic task about politics and Zeitgeist of the day. Obviously, it was a mixture and also a summary of so many thoughts of philosophers who lived from pre-Qin dynasty to Western Han dynasty, especially based upon the legacy of early Taoism's thoughts, it made some significant breakthroughs.This paper takes Tao as the thinking starting point of Huai-nan Zi, and the paper discloses that to follow Tao is the highest principle of the cosmos in the book. Through combining with Tao as the ultimate aim to the nature and society, this paper manifests the thinking feature of Huai-nan Zi. Thus the outstanding characteristics displays as the "opening" learning idea and inasmuch reflects the essential aspect of Huai-nan Zi. Meanwhile, the paper reveals the thinking characteristics of "fitting" Huai-nan Zi had paid attention to. Then, this paper points out that Huai-nan Zi emphasizes the theory of "fitting" and verifies the theory of Master Lao and Zhuang through unifying the abstruse and reality, hence discloses a new trend of Taoism's development.The paper is divided into three parts including the introduction, the main body and the conclusion. The introduction summarizes Huai-nan Zi's current research and the structure, method of the paper. The main body of the paper firstly starts with analyzing the different manners in dealing with dukes under an emperor and the philosophers in the book Huai-nan Zi, and revealing the social origin and cultural source of the book's idea. The different manner dealt with dukes under an emperor and the philosophers is an important expression which dislikes Dong Zhongshu's, meanwhile, it forecasts the fate of the book and its author. Secondly, it reveals that this book has an "opening" learning idea which is rooted from Master Zhuang, hence the book makes significant advancement to him in the aspect of idea, makes its idea more systematically, runs through in the end all kinds of administrative levels in a way of reflecting the linking between things. Heaven and man are open to each other through joining philosophers together and linking up the ancient and the present. The significance of the overwhelm thinking model is the book Huai-nan Zi's highlight.Thirdly, this paper points out that the thesis of the book Huai-nan Zi is highlighted by Tao's displaying and applying in all kinds of levels, also by showing Huai-nan Zi's inheriting from and developing into the Taoism. It is a kind of development linked with absorbing much more the philosopher's thoughts of the day, especially merging with Confucianism. From the view of the author of this paper, Huai-nan Zi proceeds with more extensiveness and deeply reveals the Tao, which is beyond shapes in advance and stated by Pre-Qin Taoism not only Master Lao and Zhuang, then the book carries out description of characteristics and function of Tao's ontology and origin, thus constitutes a systematically cosmetic pattern of generating and evolution. This paper thinks that the book applies Yin-Yang and the Five Elements to analyzing nature and social phenomenon, developing primitive Taoist and forming the holistic and equal conception of the nature.As regard to the knowledge and the Tao, Huai-nan Zi emphasizes the active action of knowledge and the necessity of learning, meanwhile, it holds "Great wisdom" and opposes "pretty wisdom". The aim of the knowledge is to get Tao as for Huai-nan Zi, and Tao surpasses general knowledge. The fulfillment of the Tao lies in its effect on human being in any society, to realize it requires the recognizing on human being, discussing on managing state affairs, and emphasizingthe construction of morality etc. In discussing the human nature and the philosophy of life, the paper thinks that Huai-nan Zi advocates human nature on one hand, while considers that external environment could influence and change human nature on the other hand. Meanwhile, to absorb Confucianism's humanity and righteousness into the content of human nature. The True Man's human nature accorded with the sphere of living is the highest realization of individual existing value. As for the state, the main points of Huai-nan Zi we to maintain the principle of Taoist's management with Tao, and to command law with Tao, to absorb rational notion of being governed by the law, to emphasize humanity and to prove the relation of above three aspects fundamentally. In other words, it is the realization of Tao, and it is the important way of Tao's implement. Concerned with the construction of morality, Huai-nan Zi on one hand holds a natural morality, on the other hand, it lays stress on applying Confucianism's social morality, emphasizing Confucianism's notion of human relations and the function of custom in changing the people, paying attention to the levels of promotion, and taking combination with Tao as the highest aim to morality.Confucianism and Taoism embody the trend of their common development, starting from rival each other ending with complement right down in merging each other, thus the role in forming basic pattern of Chinese traditional culture. As for Huai-nan Zi, to absorb Confucianism is limited especially in social practice, and it realizes the moral aspect of human nature and the necessity of righteousness, but it doesn't theoretically prove me merging of Confucianism and Taoism. So, the difference and conflict concerning Taoism and Confucianism are evident. Therefore, Neo-Taoism began to prove the reasonableness of Confiicianism ethical code from an original nature view of point, thereby perfected the theoretical system of the merging of Confiicianism and Taoism.Huai-nan Zi actively explores into the cosmetic nature, life and society, so far as it is worth absorbing and using for reference.