Study On Yan Zhitui’s Philosophical Thoughts

In Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Confucianism experienced decline while Buddhism and Taoism prevailed. However, Confucianism never disappeared from people’s vision. At that time, there were still some intellectuals clinging to Confucianism lifeline and resorting to Confucianism for life cultivation and spiritual pursuit, Yan Zhitui was one of these people. Born in Yan Intelligentsia Family with Confucianism as its family tradition, Yan Zhitui also showed interest in Buddhism. We can learn the philosophical style that was different from Metaphysics mainstream in that period by studying Yan Zhitui’s philosophical thoughts.This paper consists of six chapters:Chapter1introduces Yan Zhitui’s family inheritance and life story. The times background and Yan Zhitui’s life story constituted the social environment of gestating his thoughts while Yan Zhitui’ Intelligentsia origin and family style was the starting point of his life education. We can understand Yan Zhitui’ philosophical thoughts better by studying the above contents.Chapter2discusses Yan Zhitui’ human nature theory. Yan Zhitui regarded "xing" as natural endowment and distinguished people with three different nature endowments, namely, the wise people, mean people and foolish people. As Yan Zhitui didn’t distinguish people by good and evil standard but by natural endowment, this kind of human nature theory was different from traditional "Three Grades of Human Nature" theory, thus called by author as "Three Grades of Human Nature with No Discrepancy of Good and Evil". The wise people and foolish people are not subject to change while the mean people are the people who need education.Chapter3studies Yan Zhitui’ person cultivation theory. Yan Zhitui’ human nature theory set foot on education and guidance while his person cultivation theory answered the questions that what one ought to do and how one should do. His person cultivation theory reflected Yan Zhitui’ thoughts on life due-value:practicing human ethic standard in family; adopting benevolence and righteousness dealing with people; trampling conduct of "Li" and study. Cultivating benevolence and "Li" as well as learning is Yan Zhitui’expectation for life due-value.Chapter4analyzes Yan Zhitui’ mean methodology. Yan Zhitui’ person cultivation theory defined the connotation of Yan Zhitui’ expectation for life due-value while his mean methodology discussed life due-value’s extension in details. His methodology defined proper ways in aspects of children education and family management, creation of words and papers, seeking for official career and life principle. All these ways conformed to Confucianism mean methodology. Some authors think Yan Zhitui’"non-low and non-high" as well as "non-warm and non-cold" attitudes deviated from Confucianism classic ethics. By the interpretation of "Golden Mean" and further analysis of his works, the author thinks Yan Zhitui guarded Confucianism standpoint securely and adopted benevolence and righteousness actively throughout his life.Chapter5studies Yan Zhitui’s view on life and death. Because Yan Zhitui’"non-low and non-high" as well as "non-warm and non-cold" attitudes showed tendency of valuing life, he was criticized by some authors. As a person living in chaotic times, Yan Zhitui was pragmatic about lives, he absorbed curing methods from Taoism and integrated Buddhism’s Metempsychosis with Confucianism’s adoption of benevolence to guide people to do good things. One of Yan Zhitui’unique contribution lied in extending health preservation of one’s personal life to health preservation of offspring and family life. Although Yan Zhitui valued life, but as a person with Confucianism standpoint, he still put moral authority before personal life.Chapter6discusses Yan Zhitui historical status and evaluation. Admonitions of Master Yan brings Yan Zhitui reputation in history while Yan Zhitui contribution is not limited to that. As shown in the above contents, Yan Zhitui had his own unique thoughts on human nature theory, personal cultivation theory, methodology and view on life and death. Several scholars questioned Yan Zhitui’s true quality of Confucianism because of his tendency valuing reality. They neglected that Confucianism is the lore of practicing and Yan Zhitui had never showed contempt to transcendence. We can say that Yan Zhitui was one representative of confucianists in Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties and showed confucianist style.