Novel, Buddhism And Wang,

Liang Qichao employed art ("new novel"), Buddhism and Wang Yangming's philosophy to enhance people's mind power and emotions.The main course of Liang Qichao's first half of life is to "use speeches to make a type of ideal politicians." Emotional stimulation is the principal method. The "emotion" he refers to actually is the "mind power" which the reformists emphasize a lot. It includes "emotion", "willpower", "aspiration", "desire" etc in the modern context.Liang Qichao fully recognizes the importance of the irrational emotion and willpower in the psychological construction of human beings. Therefore, "renovating the people (Xinmin) not only means the enlightment of knowledge, but also the cultivation of emotion which primarily gives expression to the emphasis of the "mind power". The first chapter deals with the reformists'conception of mind power, and the ideal personality of Liang which is called by him the hero.Liang thinks that art is an efficient instrument of the emotional enlightment. He talks about the great influence of the novel as a new literary form which can stimulate people's emotion. The second chapter deals with Liang's strategy of using novels to empathize.Liang believes religion is the fruit of emotion. Under the influence of Kang Youwei and Tan Sitong, he chooses the "applied Buddhism" to chasten people's passion, and make people's love to become broader. The third chapter deals with Liang's strategy of using Buddhism to sharp the will.Liang feels that many revolutionaries'are corrupted morally. Thus their patriotism is not sincere. He thinks it is necessary to cultivate moral character and pure patriotism by Wang Yangming's philosophy. The fourth chapter deals with Liang's strategy of using Wang Yangming's philosophy to cultivate one's heart.