An Investigation Into The Author Of "An Introduction To Lao-Tzu"

Wang Weicheng discovered two articles under the titles of "Laojun Weizhi Lueli"and " Laozi Weizhi Lilue" in " Yunjiqijian" and " Collected Taoist Scriptures:Zhengyi",the ideas of which are similar to the thought in "An Annotation of Lao Tzu"by Wang bi.Accordingly Wang Weicheng combined two articles into "An Introduction to Lao-tsu" and wrote " The Discovery of Lost Articles in ’An Annotation of LaoTzu ’ Written by Wang Bi in Wei Dynasty ",holding that the"Introduction" is the one referred to in "A Biography of Wang Bi" by He Shao,which said " Wang Bi annotated Lao-tzu and wrote an introduction for it".In this paper,I hold that it is not rigorous enough to admit the two articles(" An Annotation of Lao Tzu " and" An Introduction to Lao-Tzu ")as the works of the same author by the similarity in the aspects of ideas and argumentations alone.Therefore,I intend to make comparisons between the "Introduction" edited by Wang Weicheng and Wang Bi’s other works from the perspectives of the spreading,the discrimination of texts and the style of writing and so on.I also absorbs and criticizes some of the viewpoints of the predecessors.Finally I will argue that there are some contradictions between the "Introduction" edited by Wang Weicheng and Wang Bi’ s other works in some important aspects.Therefore,whether or not the "Introduction" is Wang Bi’s work remains a moot point.