| Wendian Liu was a significant figure in Chinese contemporary academic history, acting as a profound influence in not only his time but also today. His study<Zhuang Zi Bu Zheng> that includes his lifetime research on<Zhuang Zi> represents as the most important interpretations of his philosophy and methodology. This article mainly based on philology and academic history, combined Neo-historiography and theories and methodologies of other disciplines, provides a comprehensive analysis of Liu’s<Zhuang Zi Bu Zheng>. Together with analysis and explorations on other studies that focused on Zhuang Zi, this article intends to unveil the Zeitgeist reflected by Liu’s study and also the profound thinking achieved by many other intellectuals at his time.This article consists of five parts. Introduction explains the reason and meaning of selecting this particular subject, reviews and analyzes the pre-academic history, and briefly introduces the content, methodology and idea behind this research. The first chapter mainly discusses the background of the period that Liu’s analysis emerged, specializing in three aspects:the social and academic transition in the period of the Republic of China; the Research background of Zhuang Zi study of that time; and the personal experience and social networking of Liu himself. The second chapter, which includes two separate parts, discusses the main content of Liu’s study of Zhuang Zi. Starting with the postscript of Deguang Zhang, the first part introduces Liu’s textual criticism of Niansun Wang and Yinzhi Wang, which is different from previous studies, analyzed in6aspects of Liu’s application of this method on study of Zhuang Zi based on <Zhuang Zi Bu Zheng>. The second part analyzed the various application of Liu’s study of Zhuang Zi based on writings from<Liu Wen Dian’s Poetry Manuscripts>, letters and others archive resources. It mainly emphasized on Liu’s viewpoints regarding topics about Zhuang Zi and evolution that were different from others including Shi Hu. Also his thoughts about Taiyan Zhang’s application of Hossoshu—"Zen interpretation of Zhuang". The third chapter discussed the profound influence of<Zhuang Zi Bu Zheng> and Liu himself to contemporary academia. The first part discussed Liu’s positive impact for his moral conduct, for fighting against Jieshi Jiang, his charm in lecture room and also his attitude towards Japanese invasion, represents his fearlessness against power; unique personality of being aloof from the world; his foresight and sagacity; and confidence of great understanding of the world. Starting with the prologue written by Yinque Chen, the second part briefly discusses the academic association between Liu and Chen. It interprets Liu’s aim of education and further confirms the book as educational demonstration and standard for scholars in our time. In conclusion, it summarizes Liu’s lifetime experience and academic achievements in30years. It claims that as the best practitioner of the philosophy of Zhuangzi, Liu’s study has never stopped in textual researches but practiced through his whole life with Zhuang Zi’s concepts of "Nature" and "Freedom". Even in a period with academic wealthiness, Liu could still be viewed as one of the most significant figure in history. |
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