Evaluate The Research About Neo-Confucianism Of Song And Ming Dynasty By Wing-tsit Chan

Wing-tsit Chan is a Chinese American scholar, who promoted Chinese philosophy inUnited States for his whole life. He translated many Chinese philosophy classics andintroduced them into America. At the same time, he devoted himself to studying neo-Confucianism of Song and Ming dynasty and made remarkable achievements. Especiallyabout Zhu Xi’s research, full-sides and meticulous, Wing-tsit Chan wrote quite a lot works,so he was known as Chinese philosophy academic authority and Zhu Xi’s authority inwestern world. After the Second World War, the United States began to research Chinawidely because of the needs of the American hegemony plan. As a result, the study ofsinology promoted Chinese philosophy development rapidly in America. Wing-tsit Chanwas the First scholar to appeal and devote in Neo-Confucianism of Song and Mingdynasty.Wing-tsit Chan’s academic career can be divided into four stages: In1935-1962,introducing Chinese philosophy; during1962-1972, China classics translation period; In1972-1982, to discuss China philosophical category period; after1982, pushed on ZhuXi’s theory period. Wing-tsit Chan made great effort to study Zhu Xi. Wing-tsit Chanknows extremely well in the heart to Confucianism development’s vein. Wing-tsit Chandiscussed Chinese philosophy concepts, such as Li (principle), Tianli (heavenlyprinciples), tai chi (Supreme pole), the relationship between Li and Chi (pneuma), Ren(benevolence) and so on. Wing-tsit Chan focus on the meaning of these concepts inneo-Confucianism of Song and Ming dynasty. Although Wing-tsit Chan has westernlearning accomplishment, he makes every effort to give us a real Zhu Xi. In the research,Wing-tsit Chan pays great attention to collect and select massive correlation material. Heused objective data to prove Zhu Xi’s original intentions, and corrected other scholars’prejudice about Zhu Xi. Wing-tsit Chan discussed many aspects on Zhu Xi: the relationbetween taiji and Zhu Xi’s ideology, Zhu Xi’s Confucian orthodoxy view, the concept ofbenevolence in Zhu Xi’s work, the middle of the road in Zhu Xi’s philosophy. Meanwhile,Wing-tsit Chan proved that Zhu Xi not only pays attention to follow the knowledge, butalso emphasize Zun de xing. By these studies, Wing-tsit Chan regards Zhu Xi as acomprehensive scholar in neo-Confucianism of Song and Ming dynasty. Wing-tsit Chan’sresearch on Zhu Xi is valuable, because his many research contents were not been studiedby Chinese, Japanese and South Korean scholars. Wing-tsit Chan also researches thethoughts of Wang Yang-ming who bends himself into the philosophy of the mind. Wing-tsit Chan called Wang Yang-ming’s thoughts "dynamic philosophy of the mind".Because of his thoughts, Wang Yang-ming is misunderstood by American scholars.Wing-tsit Chan clarifies the misunderstandings and proves real Wang Yang-ming. What’smore, Wing-tsit Chan clears what Zhu Xi has inherited from Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi,and the difference between Zhu Xi and the two Cheng. Wing-tsit Chan proved that ZhuXi has been affected by Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi when he was a child. Wing-tsit Chanalso proved that some of Wang Yang-ming’ thoughts inherited from Zhu Xi’s thoughts.Wing-tsit Chan tried to introduce Chinese philosophy to western world and madegreat efforts to research neo-Confucianism of Song and Ming dynasty, which is deservedto praise. His rigorous, careful, patient study attitude and style deserved to be admiredand learnt. Firstly, this paper will introduce the development of neo-Confucianism ofSong and Ming dynasty in the United States and the famous scholar Wing-tsit Chan. Theemphasis of the paper is to discuss Wing-tsit Chan’s research on neo-Confucianism ofSong and Ming dynasty, especially the research on Zhu Xi. Finally, the paper is going toevaluate Wing-tsit Chan’s research content and method. In fact, the main purpose of thepaper is to introduce and evaluate Wing-tsit Chan’s research objectively and fairly. At thesame time, the paper wants to cause Chinese Mainland scholars pay more attention tooverseas scholars who is working hard on spreading Chinese culture or studying Chinesephilosophy. The paper also wishes Chinese Mainland scholars and overseas scholars cancommunicate widely and learn from each other.