Studies On Sangfu System Of Wei-jin And Southern And Northern Dynasties

It normally regards the Xuan Xue(Metaphysics)and Buddhism as the mostrepresentative intellectual trends during Wei-Jin and Southern and NorthernDynasties periods. Confucianism, on the contrary, is considered as the one thatexperienced a process of decline. At the same time, as an important part of the wholeConfucianism, the Li Xue(the theories of Li) — especially the research ofSangfu—received a particular notice. This trend was showing not only in a largenumber of writings, but also in the discussions which was extremely minute andpenetrating. Furthermore, in addition to professional Taichang officials, the diversestatues including the emperors and other common officials were also involved intodiscussions on rituals. The issues they were interested in were not only on theimperial clan, but also the society as a whole.Such function which can use to guide the trends of the society and influence thepublic opinions and laws appeared a great contrast with the decline of Confucianism.It also makes the study on Sangfu system become an important perspective tounderstand the characteristic of Wei-Jin society. So it is necessary to discuss theConfucianism that was contained in the Sangfu and its relations with the time.By contrasting the real Sangfu system with the Sangfu text and the otherimportant systems in the same society, this dissertation hopes to further a discussionon the Sangfu system in Wei-jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties. This researchgoes forward on two lines. First, I tend to clarify the textual research on classics.Second, I pay more attention on the historical background. In every chapter of thisdissertation, my first step is to clarify the meanings of classical texture. Basing onsuch clarification, I describe how Sangfu system changed and analyze the innermotivations for forming such changes.We find that the most important reason why Sangfu system was prominent wasclosely related to its adaptation to keep abreast of the time, while the adaptationexisted to the full in the inner changes of Sangfu system itself. Sangfu emphasizedQinqin (亲亲)while paid more attentions on Zunzun(尊尊). The principles ofZunzun and Qinqin were interacted but distinct. However during Wei-Jin period, theprinciple of Qinqin was admired greatly, Yuanqingzhili (缘情制礼)became the maincharacteristics of the Sangfu system during this period. At the same time, thefunctions of Li to distinguish between zun (尊)and bei(卑), qin(亲) and shu(疏),were not neglected completely. Being restricted by the Li, Qing (emotion)wasexpressed more rational. It was also stabled as a common principle of the society. Sowe can say in the relationship between Qing and Li, Qing was the basic backgroundwhereas Li existed as a necessary confining factor. Such combination was not similarwith the traditional Sangfu system and unbridled behaviors. It became a new one thatmade the Sangfu according to Qing and regulated the Sangfu by the Li.It was a long time that such system came into being,and the process varieddepending on the changes of time and regions. However, the main trend of suchtransition was the same. Furthermore, because of the close relations to the big clan,the law, the social organization and the concepts of the filial duty, the study on thechanging history of Sangfu system not only describes the internal changes ofimplications in the classics, but also explores the interaction between the classics andthe society as a whole.