A Study Of Chuanshanism In The Context Of The Development Of The Contemporary Ideological Trend

Wang Chuanshan, (courtesy name, Nong, and style name, Jiang Zhai), known as Mr. Chuangshan, was born in 1619 and died in 1692. Wang Chuashan is one of the greatest thinkers. Together with Gu Yanwu and Huang Zongxi, the three are the best known Neo-Confucianists during the time of late Ming Dynasty and early Qiang Dynasty.Mr. Wang Chuanshan firmly refused to submit himself to the Qing Dynasty. Drawing serious lessons from the destruction of the Ming Dynasty, he felt obliged to make a thorough study of the Chinese ideology so that he could help to rejuvenate the Chinese culture. With his great endeavor, he eventually makes a summative study of the philosophy of Confucianism.Mr. Wang Chuanshan was a prolific writer, who produced large volumes of works, most of which are now compiled into Complete Works of Chuanshan. Scholars of his later generations have been making various research on his life, his thought,his politic stands and even his social activities, all of which are considered the study of Chuanshanism in the circle of academy.Mr. Wang Chuanshan is known as the best Neo-confucianist,who inherited and developed the theories of the great Chinese thinkers before his time, like Wang Chong and Zhang Zhai. He made a thorough study of the traditional Chinese Culture, especially Confucianism. He made pertinent criticism and revision of Confucianism pushing the development of the ancient Chinese philosophy to a summit.However, compared with the research of Gu Yanwu and Huang Zongxi, far from enough is done on Mr. Wang Chuan in the contemporary times. Therefore, Chuanshanism is not spread wide enough relatively. Not until 19th century did the research of Chuanshanism start enthusiastically in Hunan, which soon spread throughout China.An obvious fact is seen that the study of Chuanshanism greatly influenced the various schools of contemporary social ideological trends. The spirit of Chuan shanism can be trailed in the most influential ideological trends in the contemporary times.At the time of the dominance of Confucianism in government, it is strongly emphasized that the focus of academy and politics should be on the well being of the society. Zeng Guofan, Guo Songtao and Peng Yuling, who are the representatives among the pragmatic politicians, consider Wang Chuanshan as the authentic inheritor of Confucianism. Therefore, they enthusiastically carry on and promote the pragmatic view of governance of Chuanshanism. In the time when the reform ideological trend became dominant in China, Liang Qichao, Tan Citong and Tang Cai Chang, the most influential reformist, sing high praise for the theories of social reform and development of Chuanshanism. They actively build up the momentum of the reform movement in China. With the development of the democratic ideological trend rising in China,Zhang Taiyan, Zhang Shizhao and Liu Renxi, the most famous Xin Hai revolutionaries, go all out to promote the nationalism theory of Wang Chuanshan and positively adapt themselves to the needs of the revolution to overthrow the government of Qing Dynasty. In modern times, Xiong Shili, Qian Mu and He Ling, the representatives of ethno-centralism,who go all out to rejuvenate Confucianism, make full use of Chuanshanism in developing their system of philosophy that conforms to the social development of the modern times. When Marxism became popular in China, famous scholars like Jin Wenfu, Hao Wailu and Zhang Dainian try to exploit the historical materialism and dialectics from Chuanshanism.Although the scholars mentioned above are from different parts of China and from different social stratums with different academic and politic stands,they are all in full agreement with Chuanshanism, making it as their theoretical basis to advocate and promote social reform or revolution. It’s easy to see Chuanshanism from their academic stands and their personalities as well. Obviously it is worthwhile to make a further study of the fact that so many modern scholars are so much in favor of doing research on Chuanshanism.Meanwhile, the process of the development of Chuanshanism is in coincidence with the development of modern Chinese main stream social ideological trends, which are closely related and interactive to Chuanshanism.Considering all of the above mentioned factors, this thesis targets on the theme about the relationship between Chuanshanism and the development of the Chinese ideological trends in modern times. Through keen observation of the interaction between the two parts, the writer of the thesis discovered the popularization of each ideological trends in modern times not only enriched the contents of Chuanshanism, but also promoted the development of Chuanshanism, making it well transit from traditional Chinest culture to the modern Chinese culture.In return, Chuangshanism positively activate the development and popularization of each modern Chinese ideological trend, serving as the theoretical basis for modern movements of social reform or revolution. Therefore, Chuanshanism makes great academic contribution to the Chinese social transition to modernization.The thesis takes the study of Chuanshanism as a case study on the modern Chinese ideological trends, trying to disclose the process of Chinese main stream ideological trends from their start to their peak, and to their decline. The thesis also explores the communication and combination between the Chinese civilization and western civilization that modern intellectuals did on their way to rejuvenating the nation when they were faced with the situation of western culture invasion. Finally, the thesis tries to disclose how Chuanshanism,as one school of the quintessence of Chinese culture, spiritually motivated modern nationals to fight against western invaders for the existence of the country in modern times. Today on our way to the rejuvenation of China, we can also draw benefits from Chuanshanism in building up our socialist ideological and cultural system with Chinese characteristics.