To Defend The Dao Of The Divine Sages

"To defend the Dao of the divine sages(Xian Xian Sheng Zhi Dao,闲先圣之道)" is not only the cause of Mencius life,but also a consistent model of the interpretation of Confucianism.The impact of Mencius on the Confucian culture,the Chinese culture and the civilization of East Asia is far-reaching.Revealing its implications is very important for the creative transformation of traditional culture and promoting dialogues among civilizations,as well as dialogues between Chinese hermeneutics and western hermeneutics."To defend the Dao of the divine sages (Xian Xian Sheng Zhi Dao,闲先圣之道)" means that Mencius think it is respectable for the Dao of sages,such as Yao,Shun and Yu,Zhou Gong and Kong Zi. He spared no efforts to defend the interpretation of Confucianism and the Confucian position.He resists YangMohism(Yang Mo Zhi Dao,杨墨之道) invasion.He also learns Confucius and advocates benevolent government.Therefore it is useful for improving social morality.With the interpretation of Mencius,Confucian becomes as important as the Mohism.Mencius deserves its reputation of his claim of "Zhi Yan"(知言)."To defend the Dao of the divine sages(Xian Xian sheng zhi dao,闲先圣之道)" reveals itself through debates with other schools,which results in Transmitting and originating."Though there are different names between Defending the Dao of the divine sages(Xian Xian sheng zhi dao,闲先圣之道)" and "transmittance and not origination(Shu Er Bu Zuo means that a interpreter is a transmitter and not an originator,述而不作)",But they means the same,and also a consistent model of the interpretation of Confucianism.In this way Confucius and Mencius are more than a mere transmitter,for in transmitting,they originate something new.Then "transmittance and not origination(Shu Er Bu Zuo means that a interpreter is a transmitter and not an originator,述而不作)" symbolizes the Chinese classical interpretation,which determines two solutions of the interpretation of Confucianism. Taking the transmitting and writing as the mode of the interpretation dooms lack of the dimensions of the metaphysics and nomadic,which causes the Confusion appropriation in a single system.The "transmitting" is respectable for the traditional culture.Accordingly,"originating" is the expression of character and talent of the author,which shows the interpreter's creative culture position.Mencius's interpretation of "Zhi Yan"(知言) uses an approach of negation.The approach of negation is ambiguous.The uncertainty of the Dao and the distance with the author and the reader causes the conflicts of the interpretation for "Zhi Yan" (知言).The context can not eliminate the ambiguity of the words and the text.The complexity of the text is the objective base of the conflicts of the interpretation.It should not be taken the difference of the understanding as the subjectivism and relativism.The philosophy characteristic with the dominant dualism reflects the distance of the time and the contradiction of the ontology and methodology.Through the cognitive function of the heart and the knowing of the common elements of the world,Mencius would not like to argue for the distance of the time.In contrast with the conception of the distance of the time,the lack of the thought of the distance of the time is the characteristic of the Mencius's hermeneutics.The hermeneutics of Mencius implies a practical dimension of understanding the author,making friends with the sages and improving yourselves,which includes in the applications of the methods of the hermeneutics,such as "knowing the aims of the author through the text(Yi Yi Ni Zhi,以意逆志)","knowing the author and making friends with the author(Zhi Ren Lun Shi知人论世,Shang You Gu Ren尚友古人)" and " appropriating the texts and knowing yourselves(Shen Zao Zi De深造自得)".These methods has the organic,open,coherent and transcendental characteristics,which shows the sprit of freedom and vitality.This is harmony with the whole spirit of Mencius.The interpretations of Mencius imply the practical orientation of interpreting the "transmitting" and the "appropriation".This is also the consistent model of Confucianism.