The Study Of Conceptions Of Heaven And Man In Huainanzi

"Heaven" and "Man" are the two most fundamental and important concepts in the traditional Chinese philosophy."Relations between Heaven and Man" have been the most important issue discussed in the history of Chinese philosophy.Since time immemorial,many Chinese philosophers have taken them as their most important research subjects,as well as the foundation and life purpose to which they devoted their whole lives.As an important part of traditional Chinese philosophy,such relations between Heaven and Man can also be found in Huainanzi.As a culmination of the Taoism in the Han dynasty,the Conception of Heaven and Man in Huainanzi form a connecting link in the Taoist thoughts of "Relations between Heaven and Man".This thesis attempts to make a study of the Conception of Heaven and Man in Huainanzi,and the whole thesis falls into two parts:Part one is Introduction,namely the part of literature review,and Part two is the main body of the thesis,which includes 6 chapters.Chapter One:Academic Backgrounds of Huainanzi.Huainanzi appeared in the important transition age from the pre-Qin thoughts to that of the Han Dynasty,especially the transitional age when the hundred schools of thought were gradually merging together.Accordingly,Section One analyzes the academic situations in the early Han Dynasty,namely those of four schools in the early Han Dynasty:Confucianism,Taoism,Mohism,and Legalism.As the formation of Conception of Heaven and Man has its ideological roots,Section Two explores Conception of Heaven and Man before Huainanzi,namely those from Yin and Zhou Dynasties to the early Han Dynasty.It analyzes first the theological views of Heaven and Man in Yin and Zhou Dynasties,and then the pre-Qin Conception of Heaven and Man in Confucianism,Taoism,Mohism,and Legalism as well as their great impacts on Huainanzi is thoroughly analyzed,especial importance being attached to the route by which Yi Zhuan in the late Warring States period merged into the Conception of Heaven and Man in Confucianism and Taoism as well as the impacts its thoughts on Huainanzi,Finally,impacts of Lushi Chunqiu and Huangdi Neijing on Huainanzi are also analyzed.Chapter Two:Concept of Tao in Huainanzi.Following the concept of Tao in the pre-Qin days,Huainanzi holds that "Tao" is the root of the universe,and that both Heaven and Man evolve from"Tao".Thus,the concept of Tao in this chapter lays a theoretical foundation for the future exposition on Heaven and Man.Section One analyzes the connotation of "Three Taos",namely the Tao in its original meaning,the Tao in its metaphysical meaning and the Tao in its physical meaning.The Tao in its original meaning is understood from the aspect of theory of generation;the Tao in its metaphysical meaning is understood from the unity of all things,the basis of the existence of all things;and the Tao in its physical meaning is understood from the specific laws of all things as well as rules of everyday life.Section Two explores from the angle of cosmology the way how "Tao" generates all things.It makes a thorough analysis of the Taoist cosmology as represented by Huainanzi,and it makes in particular a thorough analysis of the cosmology of"double worlds" formed by the thinking model of "One and Two".Such cosmology of "double worlds" shows the uniqueness of Taoist cosmology and influences a lot on the future Taoist cosmology.In illustrating the process of how Tao generates all things,Huainanzi puts forward the vitality theory,namely the route to "use Qi to explain Tao".According to Huainanzi,the reason why Tao can generate all things is owing to the gasification of Yin and Yang Tao containsChapter Three:Concept of Heaven in Huainanzi.As "Tao" generates all things,Heaven is also generated by "Tao".Among all physical things,Heaven is of the largest size.Thus,it is,in a sense,a spokesman of "Tao".On one hand,Huainanzi follows Zhuangzi and holds that besides the physical Heaven,Heaven can also mean the essential Heaven,which has the same meaning with "Tao".On the other hand,following the Confucian idea of Heaven,Heaven has more connotations in Huainanzi,like the physical Heaven,the natural heaven,the metaphysical Heaven,and the philosophical Heaven,etc.As Heaven has a rich connotation in Huainanzi,the View of Heavenly Law also has a rich connotation.Thus Section Two explores the connotation of the View of Heavenly Law from three aspects,namely the laws of Heavenly Law,the nature of Heavenly Law and the value of Heavenly Law.As an important part in Chinese philosophy,the core of Heavenly Law falls on the nature of Heavenly Law and the value of Heavenly Law,thus providing mankind with meaning and value coordinate.Chapter Four:Concept of Man in Huainanzi.As the meaning of Man in Huainanzi varies,the concept of 'Man' in this thesis mainly refers to "Man" that corresponds to "Heaven".Section One explores in particular the concept of "Man" in Huainanzi from angles like ideal personality.Based on ideal personalities of both Confucianism and the pre-Qin Taoism,Huainanzi holds the theory of "Saints",regarding "Saints" as the supreme ideal personality.Section Two explores the View of Human Law,and particularly makes a thorough analysis of "Theory of Human Nature&Destiny" in Huainanzi.The View of Human Law can be found in the specific life values.According to Huainanzi,in addition to individual value,life values include also social value,which is a redress to the pre-Qin Taoism,especially a redress to Zhuangzi's theory of life which emphasizes only individual value.According to Huainanzi,since human-beings live in the real world,there shall be many restrictions in human life.Therefore,Huainanzi holds that human-beings should surpass the reality of existence and live the way of life they should live,thus perfecting their lives and realizing ideal life values.Chapter Five:Relations between Heaven and Man in Huainanzi After exploring the categories of Heaven and Man,this chapter explores Relations between Heaven and Man in Huainanzi.Such relations in Huainanzi are expressed specifically in Isomorphism of Heaven and Man,Interaction between Heaven and Man and Union of Heaven and Man.Section One explores the thought of Isomorphism of Heaven and Man,which is the fundamental issue in Relations between Heaven and Man,directly concerning Interaction between Heaven and Man and Union of Heaven and Man.According to Huainanzi,since both Heaven and Man evolve from "Tao",Heaven and Man are fundamentally homologous.On the other hand,as there is correspondence between Heaven and Man in structure,their structures are isomorphic.Such isomorphic thoughts influence a lot on traditional Chinese medicine and health preserving thoughts,and provide a theoretical support to the future Taoist practice of inner alchemy.Section Two explores the thought of Interaction between Heaven and Man.As Heaven and Man are both homologous and isomorphic,Heaven and Man can interact through the medium of Qi.This is the very thought in Huainanzi which is quite different from the theological theory of interaction.In spite of its own limits,Interaction between Heaven and Man at that time still provided the principle for emperors and kings to govern their countries.Section Three explores the thought of Union of Heaven and Man.Union of Heaven and Man in traditional Chinese philosophy is in essence Union of Heaven and Man in Virtue.Following the pre-Qin Confucian thoughts of Union of Heaven and Man,Huainanzi also holds the Union of Heaven and Man in both Virtue and Nature.As the supreme state pursued in Chinese philosophy,Union of Heaven and Man is in essence a value question.And Huainanzi is no exception.Through Union of Heaven and Man,it expresses the pursuit of realm of life as well as settling down and getting on with one 's pursuit.Chapter Six:Historical Status and Modern Value of Conceptions of Heaven and Man in Huainanzi.The exploration of conceptions of Heaven and Man in Huainanzi,helps to understand its historical status,which mainly shows in a great impact on the theological teleology in the Han Dynasty,thus highlighting the significance of atheism.Furthermore,Conceptions of Heaven and Man in Huainanzi have also much impact on the early Taoist conceptions of Heaven and Man.This is the content of Section One in this chapter.The purpose for us to dig out the ancients'thoughts is not only to understand their feelings.What is more important is to ".Endow Old with New",to provide cultural resources and value inspiration.Thus Section Two explores the issue of modern value.Conceptions of Heaven and Man in Huainanzi have rich ecological wisdom,and the cosmic schema of the union of Heaven,Earth and Man has,in particular,the idea of ecological balance.Environmental problems is in essence the cultural problems of human-beings' way of life and concept of life.Thus,Huainanzi,by advocating human-beings should live a life they should live,abounds with rich ecological wisdom.On the other hand,by reviewing our real world from a cosmic horizon,Huainanzi forms the conception of cosmic humanity,thus highlighting its implication of humanistic value.Because of this implication of humanistic value in Huainanzi,it advocates the value orientation of respecting for life,and the pursuing of a spirit realm of life in addition to the material necessities.All of these will provide rich cultural inspirations for our society today to construct a new humanistic spirit.