Late Ming Monk "Four Books" Interpretation Of Research

The emergence of the Confucianism and Buddhism in late Ming Dynasty marks another highlight in the history of China’s cultural integration. During this phenomenal cultural trend, the eminent monks’interpretations of The Four Books have drawn wide attention. The Four Books emerged as Confucius classics after it was interpreted by ZHU Xi, and was then widely popularized through ways such as elite Confucius culture, imperial examination and teaching. However, since ZHU Xi vigorously criticized Buddhism and Taoism, Buddhism was faced with theoretical challenges. In late Ming Dynasty, with the debasement of scholar culture, both Confucianism and Buddhism were severely impacted. As Buddhism re-established its religious ethos, it took Confucianism into consideration, and interpreted The Four Books in a diversified way, providing a new dimension to the traditional school of Confucianism. This also demonstrates the common thing in these two interpreting ways. The theoretical depth of the emergence of the Confucianism and Buddhism in late Ming Dynasty and its influence on the history of culture can be understood through the interpretations of The Four Books by ZHU Hong, DE Qing, GUAN Heng, GUANG Zhen, DAO Sheng, ZHI Xu and DAN Gui.The First Chapter of this essay will focus on the Confucius study of The Four Books-a brief introduction and basic features of studies by eminent monks in late Ming Dynasty. In Chapter Two to Chapter Five, the essay will introduce another six eminent monks’ interpretations of The Four Books except for ZHI Xu, based on The Great Learning, The Doctrine of Mean, The Analects of Confucius and Mencius. Chapter Six will focus on ZHI Xu’s Interpretation of The Four Books, the secularization issue of it and its historical influence, and will also discuss about ways in which Buddhism explains it. The Conclusion will comment on the influence on Confucius study of The Four Books brought by eminent monks’ interpretations from cultural and historical point of view, reflecting the Buddhism interpretations which feature enlightenment, diversification, inclusiveness and pragmatism. It will then give out suggestions for the practice of Chinese cultural and religious theory.