Zhang Dai's Study Of The Four Books And His Historiography

Zhang Dai was a literature, historian and ideologist in turn from Ming to Qing Dynasty. He had created more than 30 works in his whole life but only one has been embodied in Imperial Collection of Four Comprehensive Table of Contents that is West Lake Dream. Since modern times, Zhang Dai's essays were riveted and many research monographs and dissertations have been published as more and more people show their interests in the Zhang Dai and his works. However, few people focus on the research of Si Shu Yu, historiography works Shi Gui Shu and The Post-set of Shi Gui Shu. Therefore, to make research on Zhang Dai's Si Shu Yu and historiography works will be of great help to the current people valuating and commenting on Zhang Dai's historical status, as well as comprehensively understanding and grasping the academic development of ideology between Ming-Qing dynasties.Zhang Dai's Si Shu Yu reflects not only the style of classical study between Ming-Qing dynasty, but also his features in study pursuit which mainly manifests in the following aspects: (a) opposing instruction and emphasizing elucidation of doctrine and reason; (b) to adopt others'opinions with no more description of his own; (c) paying attention to experience and self-congratulation; (d) full understanding of Confucianism Buddhism and Daoism; (e) being against Zhu Xi's annotation and the current annotation.Zhang Dai's philosophical ideas are deeply affected by Yangming Idealistic, at the same time embodies his features of that era. Ontologically his ideas regard the mind as the ontology, emphasizing self and giving prominence to self. On humanity, he succeeds to Wang Ji's theory of no kindness and evil, and he ascribe the kindness and evil to habits. On studying in the phenomena of nature, he succeeds to Wang Yangming's explanation of Ge, which means correcting. On methodology he advocates the unity of knowing and action, meanwhile he attaches great importance of action and practice.Shi Gui Shu and the Post-set of Shi Gui Shu were two magnum opuses to which Zhang Dai devoted his whole life. The two works, imitating Record of History, is a general history of the historical facts of Ming dynasty. Zhang Dai's historical view manifests in change as time passes, emphasis of human and matter, morale, fate etc. His thoughts of historiography are quite rich and represent the feature of era. First, he attaches importance to faith, filial piety and justice when compiling history. Secondly,...