On Liang Qichao 's Study

Liang Qichao, as an important scholar in modern times, made a thorough researchon ancient Chinese academic history. And he also had signiifcant influences onthe next generations. Of course, Liang Qichao paid highly attentions on thepre-Qin philosopher Xunzi, and conducted comprehensive researches. But thereis a big difference between the earlier and later researches. On the earlier stage，he mainly criticized Xunzi, while the latter stage, he became more cautious.Around Wu Xu Reform Mo’vement, on the political propagandas purpose,LiangQichao took Xunzi as a representative of absolutism and gave a sharp criticismfor the Chinese history of tyranny and backward that caused by the Xunzi’sthoughts. However, in the later study, especially since1917，his research onXunzi changed a lot. First of all，Liang Qichao gave a detailed research onX’unzis lifetime and "Xunzi" the text; secondly，the focus on Xunzi’s thoughtshad changed, not only on the political and ideological aspects, but the logic ofXunzi and the theory of human nature; thirdly, the research on theanti-heterodoxy was different from the earlier stage. On the earlier stage, LiangQichao criticized it and believed that there was a big relationship betweendespotism and anti-heterodoxy, later Liang Qichao recognized that academicresearch could not be promoted without the academic criticism. In short, LiangQichao made great changes on Xunzi’s researches. There are mainly two reasonsfor that, one is Liang Qichao’s personal life experience, the other is the changesof the backgrounds. Around Wu Xu Reform Movement，Liang Qichao was a political activist, so the thought of Xunzi was used mainly to achieve his politicalpropaganda, in that time, Liang qichao concentrated on the political，ideologicalcriticism, and political thought. Naturally, the researches lacked comprehensiveanalysis and seemed more subjective. After1917，although Liang Qichaocontinued paying attentions to politics, but he completely withdrew from politics.As a scholar, his study on Xunzi was not limited to the political aspects, but alsoon the lifetime of Xunzi,"Xunzi" text and non-political aspects. At the sametime,，Liang Qichao was influenced greatly by other academic thoughts in thatperiod, in addition, the developed logic in the west impressed him so much thathe started explore the logical thoughts of Xunzi, and gave a highly evaluation.