The Study On Wang Kaizu's 'Ru Zhi Bian'

Wang Kaizu (about 1035—1068),a native of Wenzhou in the middle of the Northern Song Dynasty, was known as the second name Jingshan(景山),and people also call him Mr. Ru Zhi(儒志先生).He is considered as one of the pioneers of the Neo-Confucianism in the Northern Song Dynasty since the new Confucian ideas he advocated based on his own study of Confucian texts are parallel to what lately suggested by Zhou Dunyi(周敦颐),Zhang Zai(张载)and the Cheng Brothers(程氏兄弟).However, his works were largely lost except the Ru zhi Bian(儒志编).It is the only data by which we can know something about his ideas. This treatise will focus on a theoretical interpretation on Wang's main ideas based on the study of his work. The first part is trying to find out a regular pattern, content and meaning of his work, and to clarify its theoretical framework. For this purpose, this part will work on the exploration on the historical, political, ethical and philosophical background reflected by Wang's work, by which the author tries to elucidate the ultimate purpose of Wang's Ru Zhi Bian. It is inevitable for this paper to involve with the Yongjia School which flourished in the Southern Song Dyanasty, the author also will make an exploration about the relationship between Mr. Wang and the main representatives of the Yongjia School, such as Xue Jixuan, Chen Fuliang and Ye Shi, in the second part of this treatise. The practical significance of Wang Kaizu's ideas, its theoretical meeting and the value orientation will be expounded in the last part.