Comparative Study On The "Hui Confucian" And "Western Confucian"

In this dissertation, "Hui Confucian" mainly refers to Chinese Islamic scholars at late Ming and early Qing Dynasty, who were born in China,deeply influenced by Confucianism and engaged in "annotating Islam with Confucianism".Therefore, in terms of their characteristic of Confucian, "Hui Confucian"can be called Confucian Muslim too.The important representatives of "Hui Confucian"are Wang Daiyu(about 1570-1660) ,Zhang Zhong(about 1584-1670),Wu Zunqi(about 1598-1698),Ma Zhu(1640-1711),Liu zhi(about 1655-1745)and Jin Tianzhu(about 1690-1765)and so forth."Western Confucian" mainly refers to western Catholic preachers at late Ming and early Qing Dynasty,who lived in China for a long period,studied Confucian sutras, introduced science and technology to China,and Coalesced Catholicism and Confucianism so as to develop or circulate their own religion in China.So, according to their trait of Confucian,"Western Confucian"can be called Confucian Catholic too. The representative characters are Matteo Ricci(1552-1610),Julio Aleni(1582-1649), Johann Adam Schall von Bell(1591-1666), Ferdinand Verbiest (1623-1688), JoachimBouvet (1656-1730), Joseph de Premare(1666-1736), Jean-Francois Foucquet (1665-1741)and so on.Before the appearance of "Hui Confucian" and "Western Confucian",Islam and Christianism had been introduced into China early. Though Islam achieved continuous development and Christianism spreaded abroad twice since Tang Dynasty,they didn't realize true and deep communication, dialogue and amalgamation with Chinese trational culure especially with Confucianism in thought and culture.In addition,unlike buddhism,they hadn't translated a good many sutras into Chinese acting as the carrier of circulating religion before Ming Dynasty,so, teaching and canon of Islam and Christianism didn't be known very well by Chinese people.With "Hui Confucian" and "Western Confucian" coming into being, Islam and Christianism realized the true and deep communication, dialogue and amalgamation with Confucianism,which was the turning-point as to the development and circulation of Islam and Christianism as well as the symbol of qualitative leap of sinicization of Islam and Christianism. The "Hui Confucian" and "Western Confucian" were two active groups came forth at the turn of Ming and Qing dynasty in China. They were both remarkable because of their devotion to harmonizing with Confucianism. By comparing the commonness and differences of their thinking , actions and dedications between "Hui Confucian" and "Western Confucian", we can obtain many useful edifications for the different religions, cultures and civilizations to coexist harmoniously and for constructing harmonious culture and society in today's world even in the future.This dissertation conducted Comparative study in four aspects:1 .Circumstances when "Hui Confucian" and "Western Confucian"Came into being. At late Ming and early Qing Dynasty,Islamic scholars and catholic preachers had similar subjective wishes and missions-the former tried hard to realize renaissance of Islam in China,the latter made great effort to reach the goal of Christianization of China.However,they had to face the common objective fact-Confucianism enjoyed dominant status in China.So,in order to realize similar dreams of developing or circulating their own religions,they must harmonize with Confucianism and adapt to the social reality of China,which can create fine environment for the existence and development.During the course of harmonizing with Confucianism, islamic scholars and catholic preachers had a good many traits of Confucian gradually.Then, "Hui Confucian" and "Western Confucian" Came into being.As to the birth of "Hui Confucian" and "Western Confucian",there are three differences owing to the different religious bBackground:the first is different cultural backgrounds,the second is different dddressees,the third is different psycho-mMotivations.2. Respective Coalescence of Islam and Christianity with the Confucianism by"Hui Confucian" and "Western Confucian". The coalescence of Islam with the Confucianism by"Hui Confucian"mainly includes the following aspects: citing the Confucian theory on universe into the Islamic thought of Allah created the world; defining the Confucian figures of Tian( Heaven) and western sage respectively as Islamic Allah and Mohammed; enlisting Chinese sages such as Confucius as Sant nominated by Allah; stressing the complementation of Islam with Confucianism; equating Islamic moral rules with Confucian ethic ideas; emphasizing the indivisibility of being loyal to Allah and to the Emperor.The combination of Christianity with the Confucianism by "Western Confucian" mainly focuses on the following field: defining the God worshiped by Chinese as the Deus by westerner; similar ideas on Immortal Soul and on Heaven and Hell in Confucian Classics with Christianity; governing the Confucian moral and ethic ideas with Christian doctrines; respecting the Chinese traditional customs of Heaven Worship, Ancestor Worship and Confucius Worship; excessive farfetchedanalogy of the Figurists on Confucian classics and other Chinese literatures.The differences between the coalescence with Confucianism by"Hui Confucian" and "Western Confucian"are: varied core goals; different range of involvement; diversified responses from the Inside and Outside of the religion.3. The Communication with Upper Ruling Classes in China. During the course of syncretizing Islam and Christianity with the Confucianism,"Hui Confucian" and "Western Confucian" affiliated consanguineously with upper ruling classes in China because they knew very well that the most effective means to blazon forth and transmit their religions was to obtain the understanding, recognition, admiration and support of upper ruling classes espeicaaly the emperor in China. Making a comprehensive view of the religious history,we can conduct such a conclusion that the successand failure of all religion depended on the attitude of emperor.So, obtaining the understanding, recognition, admiration and support of upper ruling classes espeicaaly the emperor is the most important springboard to expand their religions.The differences on the communications of "Hui Confucian" and "Western Confucian" with the upper classes are: different means of communicating; varied actual effect; different social influence.4. Disputation of "Hui Confucian" and "Western Confucian" with Buddhism and Taoism.At the same time of harmonizing with Confucianism, "Hui Confucian" and "Western Confucian"made a clear distinction against Buddhism and Taoism.They both claimed that Buddhism and Taoism were deviationism and spared no effort to criticize on them.The criticism of "Hui Confucian" on Buddhism and Taoism focused on their ideas of Kong(Empty) and Wu(Naught), Retribution, Heaven and Hell, Samsara.The obvious difference between the criticism of "Hui Confucian"and "Western Confucian" on Buddhism and Taoism is :no formal responses from Buddhism and Taoism to criticism by "Hui Confucian", but Fierce joint-counterpunch from Buddhism and Confucianism to criticism by "Western Confucian". Conclusion: Implication of the thought and activities of "Hui Confucian" and "Western Confucian"What should be made clear is conducting comparative study on "Hui Confucian" and "Western Confucian"in this dissertation is not to distinguish which group or religion do better,but to glorify their precious spirit and contribution to be brave in promoting the communication of different civilization all over the world.