Zhao Qi "mencius Chapters" And Zhu's "mencius Variorum" Comparative Study

Mencius is the most influencing figure inheriting Confucian thought,just secondary to Confucius. The book of "Mencius"records the important thoughts and speeches of Mencius,and is Confucian classic literature. Since the Han Dynasty, a lot of scholars researched "Mencius", made a large valuable results,and formed the specialized knowledge——"Mencius"theory. In the history of "Mencius" theory,the following three classics can not be ignored,namely the eastern Han Dynasty ZhaoQi’s "Mencius chapters and sentences", the Song Dynasty ZhuXi’s "Mencius variorum" and the Qing Dynasty JiaoXun’s "Mencius justice". At present, researchers whether for ZhaoQi’s "Mencius chapters and sentences", or ZhuXi’s "Mencius variorum", all made a fruitful research. However the key point of research focuses only on the single work itself, there is no comprehensive comparative study towards the two works as a whole, this paper will use this as the research object.ZhaoQi’s"Mencius chapters and sentences" is the oldest "Mencius"’s annotation work which has groundbreaking status in the history of "Mencius" theory, and plays a based role in the later "Mencius" study. ZhaoQi noting "Mencius", pays great attention to the exegesis as well as pursues "sublime words with deep meaning", and be praised highly by past dynasties "Mencius"’s researchers. ZhuXi’s variorum based on Zhao’s variorum, To a large extent, ZhuXi’s "Mencius variorum" which praises highly the essence and makes up the shortage of Zhao’s variorum is the inheritance and development for Zhao’s variorum. But ZhuXi’s "Mencius variorum" has his own good points, and also is a certain transcendence beyond ZhaoQi "Mencius chapters and sentences". That is to say, each has his strong point and distinguishing feature as well. Therefore, this article takes the comparative study of the two works as the key point, discusses Zhu’s variorum to the inheritance and development of Zhao’s variorum from multiple aspects, and on this basis to seek the similarities and differences between them.The comparative study are divided into four aspects. Firstly, comparing the explanatory note styles and ways between "Mencius chapters and sentences" and "Mencius variorum"; Secondly, displaying Zhu’s "Mencius variorum’"s highly praisal to Zhao’s "Mencius chapters and sentences"; Thirdly, analyzing Zhu’s variorum’s development and inheritance to Zhao’s variorum; Lastly, hunting the differences between Zhao’s variorum and Zhu’s variorum.After analysis and discussion, Zhao’s "Mencius chapters and sentences" pays great attention to the exegesis as well as precisely pursues "sublime words with deep meaning" Zhu’s variorum inherited and developed Zhao’s variorum on the exegesis, but has his own individuality and feature; Zhu’s variorum’s annotation of argumentation to "Mencius" can be described as unprecedented, and takes "Mencius" theory of argumentation to another level. Both represent the respective times of highest level of "Mencius" theory. Zhu’s variorum highly praised Zhao’s variorum as well as inherited and developed Zhao’s variorum, at the same time, both have some disagreements on the exegesis and annotation of "Mencius".Through comparison and research, we can understand the characteristics and goal oriented of Han and Song learning "Mencius", and the development trajectory of "Mencius" theory from Han to Song Dynasty.