Study On Zhu Xi’s Research Of The Book Of Li Ji

Zhu Xi(朱熹,also called Zhu Zi)is not only a master of Neo-Confucianism in Song dynasty,but also started a new era for the study of Confucian classics,among which the ritual study takes an important role.The book LI JI(《礼记》)builds a bridge between the ritual study and the Neo-Confucianism,therefore it has a unique status and multiple values in Zhu Zi’s Philosophy.Zhu Zi had an analytical attitude toward the book LI JI and believed that the some articles in the book were written by the confucianists in Han dynasty,while others were the credible recordation of the old rituals,or the reliable records of Confucius and his students’ words and deeds.Zhu Zi’s views on the status of LI JI also showed dialectical and multi-level characteristics.As far as the relevance of the content was concerned,Zhu Zi considered that Yi Li(《仪礼》)is a scripture,which were largely inherited by LI JI,so it cannot be understood without the rituals of Yi Li.He also pointed out that many articles in LI JI were not the explanations of Yi Li and these articles had their unique values.Zhu Zi recognized the status of Li Ji changed from biography to scripture after Wei dynasty(one kingdom of the Tree Kingdoms)and advocated to put Li Ji together with Zhou Li(《周礼》)and Yi Li as a subject in the imperial examination.Zhu Zi’s opposition against Wang Anshi(王安石)was the disengagement of Li Ji and Yi Li,not the abolition of the Yi Li.Some scholars often take"Yi Li is a scripture while Li Ji is a biography"as Zhu Zi’s view,which is one-sided.Zhu Zi’s dialectical attitudes toward Li Ji concentrated in the book Yi Li Jing Zhuan Tong Jie(《仪礼经传通解》),among which articles were both from Yi Li and Li Ji.The value of the book showed among the reservation of the old rituals,the explanation of the scripture and the Neo-Confucianism thoughts etc.Zhu Zi attached great importance to the reservation of the old rituals,especially the Emperor’s rituals,the outline of the set of etiquette and the daily used rituals.Li Ji has a great practical significance for Zhu Zi’s ritual study.Zhu Zi believedthat Yi Li cannot be directly used by the people in their daily life and therefore he transformed it,while Jia Li(《家礼》)was a significant outcome.Zhu Zi also believed many rituals in Li Ji can be used during his time,such as the old Chinese patriarchal system and the daily used etiquettes,which are specified in the Jia Li and Xiao Xue(《小学》).Zhu Zi’s study of Li Ji still has many significant implications to further understanding and using of it.