| Kang Youwei (1858-1927) was an important classical scholar, thinker and reformer in the Chinese modern history. As a master of Confucian classics in modern script in the late Qing and early republic period, throughout all his life Kang had kept the open and absorptive attitude to the spread of western science, which was integrated into his Confucian classics in modern script system by his perseverant efforts. From the point of his life’s academic route, in the early years Kang had the tendency to ancient literature with the characteristic of a generic-extensive view of studies, the love of west-learning, the special interests in Han and Song, the intimacy of all the studies. He met Liao Ping in Guangzhou and established the view of Confucian classics in modern script, which was what he approved all his life.Influenced by his mentor, Zhu Ciqi, a great Confucian in Mid-Guangzhou, at the very beginning his classical view concerned the concept of practical knowledge of managing state affairs, which focused on application, Zhou Li and the merit to people and the tendency of it was emphasized more from the aspect of the merit to people and physical usage to the aspects of economy and politics afterwards. He actively participated in political and social activities by changing the fundamental academics into practical politics gradually, aiming to push the political reform and social evolution. With the changes of the current affairs and social situations, Kang had propelled, shifted and deepened his academic attitudes gradually, such as, from the early ancient classics to Confucian classics in modern script, from the reform depending on ancient political system to the Qing dynasty of political reform, from the evolution of three different-periodic societies to an ideal society, from the same attention on "material and moral" to Confucianism priority-the principle of universal values. In a word, Kang had a consistent standpoint, such as, the political spirit-the concept of practical knowledge of managing state affairs, the firm faith of universal values, the great respect for Confucian. He was influenced by the western science and the political and social theory and so on during the integration of the spread of western science and Confucian classics in modern script.It was an era of great changes and reforms in the late Qing and early republic period. Based on the relationship of Confucianism and Science, this paper focuses on the issues that Kang was influenced by the spread of western science-the compatibility between Confucianism and Science, such as, the transfer of the standpoint of classics, the reconstruction and the evolution of the Confucian classics in modern script, the social function of Confucianism under the background of science as the guide in modern society. Based on the reconstruction, Kang came to the highest state of theoretical thinking by taking The encyclopedia of real public law as the principal thing, and then The inside and outside article of Kang Zi and The material saving theory the second, as well as the classical annotations attached in The variorum for the Doctrine of the Mean, The variorum for analects expounding, The variorum for LiYun, Chun-qiu da-yi wei-yan kao, and Great Harmony. When it comes to the specific contents, concrete reform measures-the ideal of great harmony and material-saving industrialization-appeared. What’s more, the genius ideas are valuable thinking for the stormy China to seek a way out under the background of internal and external troubles.Influenced by the spread of western science, Kang’s Confucian classics in modern script ideas initiated the enlightenment-the beginning of the new culture movement in the 20th century, and it had a profound impact throughout the whole century. The new culture movement had three impacts:liberalism, Marxism and modern new Confucianism. Be similar with the elder Kang, the modern new Confucianism trends to strive for the balance between moral value and scientific rationality. Now the thing is that modern new Confucianism has presented a splendid sight through the efforts of several generations. At the same time, the study of Kang’s Confucianism became a hot spot. The modern new Confucianism and Kang’s ideas are inextricably linked because the new Confucian school takes mind as the basic orientation, inward-highlighting the thoughts of Confucianism and transcendence to concern people’s soul and life and outward-advocating to return the original to open a new world, to realize the modernization of Confucianism by science and democracy. Recently new Kangism rises in mainland China and scholars, such as, Jiang Qing, Zeng Yi, Gan Chunsong and Tang Wenming, etc had claimed that we should back to Kang Youwei by highlighting the social and political content of Confucian, continuing Kang’s thinking of Confucian movement, constructing religious groups and working the social organizational system according to the needs of society, responding to the problem of modernity using Kang’s political philosophy and Confucian thought to modernize Confucianism. Both are originated from Kang’s universal values based on Confucianism. Therefore, the relationship of the spread of western science and the studies of Confucian classics in modern script is both a twice-told story and an eternal-renewed topic.Chapter-arrangements as follows:The first chapter elaborates the formation of Kang’s Confucian classics under the influence of the spread of western science, in which Kang’s life and times background, the field and the content accepted by Kang in the late Qing and early republic period, and a first unique system of Kang’s Confucian classics are detailed.The second chapter is to reveal the theoretical origin of Kang’s Confucian classics under the influence of the spread of western science, in which Darwin’s theory of evolution, western nebula hypothesis,the representative-geometry-based scientific methodology system formed by the studies of western science, and western modern social-political theory are the major parts. All of these derived from the essence of the book Chun-qiu Gong-yang.The third and fourth chapters are the main parts of this paper, in which the evolution of Kang’s Confucian classics in modern script is discussed. Under the influence of the spread of western science, Kang’s attitudes towards science and Confucianism experienced four stages:"Introducing the West into the Confucianism" (1880-1895), "Westernizing the Confucianism" (1895-1902), " the parallel of Confucianism and West" (1902-1912), "Confucianize the West" (1913-1927)The fifth chapter is the summary and sublimation of the former 4 chapters, in which the value and fate of Kang’s Confucian classics in modern script under the influence of the spread of western science are discussed. Here it goes:Firstly, Kang, a reformer of the Confucianism and the political reform of Qing dynasty, subjectively reformed the Confucian classics with the spread of western science; Secondly, he attempted to integrate the 2 parts by his personal efforts; Thirdly, the qualities of Kang’s Confucian classics under the influence of the spread of western science; Fourthly, Kang’s theories came to the end; Last but not least, this paper inspired the most important point-the modern transformation of Confucianism and the origination of new Confucianism.The highlight of this paper i:First, to explore the relationship between science and Confucianism in the scientific point of view, reveals the evolution in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China eastward scientific impact by Kang Youwei Jingxue.Second, for science and Confucianism compatible, repulsion, or other dispute problem, revealing science and Confucianism with wide compatibility, has a warm hug, close contact with the side, science and Confucianism has mutual affinity gene.Third, the four periods of Kang Youwei life:"Introducing the West into the Confucianism", "Westernizing the Confucianism", " the parallel of Confucianism and West ", "Confucianize the West". to redraw the time node. And according to the characteristics of thought in different periods of eastward scientific impact under Kang Youwei’s study of Confucian classics in the evolution of carding, concluded conclusion:after 1880, respecting Confucianism, absorbing East pass science throughout the life of Kang Youwei.Fourth, standing in the perspective of scientific "truth", "seeking truth" and to explore Kang’s "Six Classics", "sublime words with deep meaning" random analysis solutions of Confucian classics by the way is a departure from the basic scientific spirit. In order to achieve their own purposes, a subjective interpretation is caused by the decline of Confucianism’s most deadly causes. Kang Youwei solution by the way for future research on Confucianism and science relationship provides a salutary lesson: regardless of the Confucianism and scientific research must respect the objective facts, adhere to the scientific spirit of seeking truth from facts, practice what one preaches, advancing with the times.Fifth, reveal Kang Youwei "respect for Confucianism", Confucianism "universal value" of the default importance. China is in a period of social transformation, in the traditional culture is facing a serious loss, through the study of this issue, to regain the confidence of the people, the structure of the national faith has a positive significance. The Confucian culture contains an important enlightenment to solve the problems of the contemporary human beings.The highlights of this paper are:First, trying to explore the relationship between science and Confucianism in the perspective of science and reveals the evolution of Kang Youwei’s Confucian classics in modern script system under the influence of the spread of western science in the late Qing and early republic period.Second, trying to reveal the wide compatibility between Confucianism and science against the arguments like Confucianism and science companying or repulsing each other.Third, redrew the time node of the four periods of Kang Youwei life:the period of introducing the West into the Confucianism (1880-1895), the period of westernizing the Confucianism (1895-1902), the period of the parallel of Confucianism and West (1902-1913), the period of confucianizing the West (1913—1927).By reviewing the evolution of Kang Youwei’s Confucian classics in modern script system during different period of thoughts with different characteristics under the influence of the spread of western science, comes the conclusions:he had kept respecting Confucianism and absorbing the spread of western science since 1880.Forth, the way Kang explained Confucian classics is a departure from the basic scientific spirit in the scientific perspective of "the pursuit of the truth". The subjective interpretation with subjective purposes of the classics was the main causation of the decline of the spread of western science. Kang’s interpretation provides a useful lesson for the study of the relationship between confuciansm and science:whether it is the study of Confucianism or science, everyone shall respect the objective facts and adhere to the spirit of the pursuit of the truth, and in the same time, practice what one preaches and improve with the times.Fifth, Kang’s spirit of respecting the Confucianism and the prediction of Confucianism becoming universal value is important. Confucianism contains the power to solve the modern problems. Confucianism could help to regain confidence and rebuild faith in the period of social transformation and the serious loss of traditional culture.Kang’s thoughts, the extremely valuable thought system aiming at the modernization of Chinese culture, aroused in the modern China under the background of the fierce collision between Chinese and Western cultures. It has great significance and inspiration for us to face the current modernization and modernity problem as well as to deal with the relationship between science and Confucianism. The exploration of Kang’s Confucian classics, which concerns the origin of new Confucianism, the success or failure of the Confucianism movement and the universal values of Confucianism in the new century, is of great significance. |
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