Research On The Theory Of "Xing"

"Xing", having been debated by dozens of philosophers ever since Pre-Qinperiod, especially during the Song Ming Periods, is a key concept of Chineseintellectual tradition. However, the identity and difference between Confucius andMencius 'views to the "Xing" are still not very distinct for the missing of the ancientbooks and records. So it is not very surprised to see that Confucius' views was ofteninterpreted as Mencius' Fortunately, today we can see some missing chapters writtenon the bamboo slips discussing "Xing" ,such as Tang Yu Zhi Dao, Tian Chang(ChengZhi Wen Zhi), Xing Zi Ming Chu , Yu Cong, recently excavated from the GuodianChu tomb, and in the Shi Lun, Xing Qing Lun on the bamboo slips kept in ShanghaiMuseum. The era of these bamboo slips happens to lie between Confucius andMencius, so they can tell us many important and dependable research materials.Based on the classics and the unearthed documents, the paper comprehensivelystudies the thoughts of "Xing" of Confucius and his followers by textual research andargumentation. It is very helpful for us to understand the origin and development ofthe Xin and Xing theory.It is essential to turn over to think the traditional research methods as to theauthenticity, time and school of the books, especially the shortcomings of school—dividing in Han Shu based on Liuxiang and Liuxin' categorization. By doing this,theoretic base has been set. And credible revise on unearthed documents needed helpsfurther steady research. Then we may make good use of both the traditional and theunearthed documents more objectively. According to the analyses mentioned above,the dissertation on "Xing" between Confucius and Mencius mainly be divided intotwo parts:Confucius' "Xing" and the schools after Confucius'.By dint of Tian Chang, the author has analyzed the Confucius's statement on"Xing is similar", which means the heaven-born, eternal and discrepant "Xing" issimilar when it is not ripe yet. We can comprehend the "Xing" expatiated byConfucius including physical nature and social nature under the analysis of Shi Lun.Confucius' purpose is to seek a human gift base for the rationality of "Li".Linkingwith Xing Zi Ming Chu , the Yi Zhuan shows that Confucius considers heaven-bornXing is a process which need the main body to finish energeticly and take "moralityand justice" as the standard. Just by this, Confucius transfers the completion of"Xing" from heaven to oneself;from external strength of surmounting to inherentstrength;from God's consciousness to human relation and morality and justice, andthis is exactly what the spirit of Confucianism is all about. At the "Book on FilialPiety", Confucius combines Xing and filiation into a single unit directly.Among the school after Confucius, the paper has proved that no theory of "thegood nature" in Xing Zi Ming Chu is a fact, and that it discusses the Xing from thestandpoint of ordinary people in Xing Zi Ming Chu, which is different from ZhongYong (the Doctrine of the Mean). The paper also discusses the chapter , "all discussthe Xing", which is very difficult to understand in the Mencius , and analyses thestatement of "Ren comes from heart, while Yi from ceremony", far well known fromGaozi, which is just the focus of the dispute between him and Mencius. Based on therelationship between "Xing" and "Wu" recorded in classics, in the Great Learning, anew idea will be put forward that the meaning of "Ge Wu" will lead to "Cheng Xing".