A Study On Bao Pu Zi Wai Pian And Gehong's Thoughts

Gehong (葛洪) , the scholar between Xijin and Dongjin dynasties, wrote two outstanding books -Bao Pu Zi Wai Pian(《抱朴子外篇》) and Bao PU Zi Nei Pian ( 《抱朴子内篇》) in the prime of his life. The author's preface said, the Nei pian is belong to Taoism which is about the supernatural being, strange medicine, ghosts and gods, keeping in good health, and keeping off the disadvantages; the Wai Pian is belong to Confucianism which is about the real affairs of the world.Because of the tremendous differences in their contents and styles, the two books have met with different destiny since they were published Nei Pian became one classic of Taoism rapidly, of which the discussing that immortal could be reality by industrious studying made great contributing to the systematizing of Taoism theory. The academic circles has made meticulous and in-depth research about Nei Pian, but the research about Wai Pian has not been enough and inadequate. So, this thesis try to discuss the thoughts in Waipian especially its politics, ethics, and recluse thoughts.The chapter one ,"On gehong's thought tendency from the dividing of Nei Pian snd Wai Pian ", combining the scholars' researches, discusses the time of the final version of the two books , and by the information revealed from the author's preface, this thesis made a conclusion that the two books were finished before gehong's 35 years old, but the final version were made about in his 50's, which incarnated the author's mature thoughts. Gehong's real ideality was to be a "Wen Ru'X^tffi) that would be recognized by Confucianism. The dense complex about Confucianism ran through Gehong's thoughts all the time.The chapter two, " On Gehong's thought about the relation between Taoism and Confucianism", discusses Gehong's ideas about Taoism and Confucianism from the following five aspects: Taoism being the fundamental and Confucianism the incidental, respecting Taoism as well as Confucianism, Confucius and Laozi both being saints, the way to the immortal. Gehong's repeated dissertating about Taoism and Confucianism is the embodiment of his double thought and personality. In the history of Taoism, Gehong was a forerunner of the renaissance of Confucianism because of his worship for the ideas of Confucianism. In the meanwhile, his integrating Confucianism into Taoism formed a basis for the development of Taoism in theory.The chapter three "On the ethical thoughts of Bao Pu Zi", analyzes Gehong's idea ofcultivating one's character being the same as ruling the country, the idea of ruling by law as well as by virtue, the idea of objecting non-monarchy and the idea of talents. Gehong combined the theory of cultivating one's character and ruling the country, all the more, he emphasis the importance of Confucianism in terms of the time's need. As to stick up for the feudalism dominion, he claimed that the law should be thought much of as the virtue. In allusion to the tidal current of non -monarchy ,of which Bao Jing Yan's (鲍敬言) wuJuhLun (《无君论》) was the model, Gehong wrote a writing JieBao( 《诘鲍》) to animadvert it ,which reflected his attention to the society. His ideals about talents is that the emperor should make use of the solons and wisdoms. He probed into it from some aspects such as the talents' significance, the identifying, the choosing, and the employing of talents. All his ideas can be also used for references nowadays.The chapter four "On Gehong's thoughts about reclusion", analyzed Gehong's idea of reclusion.The tension and contradiction between withdrawing from society and taking an active part in society run through gehong's thoughts about reclusion. Keeping from the disadvantages and coming close to the advantages, treasuring individual life, and thinking much of the spiritual freedom, all these construct the basis of gehong's thoughts about reclusion.There are several elementary feature of his thoughts about reclusion, such as acting actively at appropriate time, having the same effect whether standing aloof from worldly affairs or not, respecting...