"Huainanzi" Human Nature Thought Exploration

"Huai Nan Zi" is a book compiled by Huainan King Liu An and his guests at the beginning of the Han Dynasty.It was published in the early period of the Western Han Dynasty.Collection and synthesis are also the most outstanding academic works during the preparation period for the establishment of the ruling ideology of the unified feudal empire.The pre-Qin Confucianism and Taoism attached great importance to the study of human nature issues,and their ideological connotation was also very rich."Huai Nan Zi" draws on the two and extend them to form their own unique human nature thoughts.The study of human nature thoughts in "Huai Nan Zi" is based on these aspects:first,the origin of humanity thoughts,and then to explain the content of humanity thoughts,and finally promoted to human nature cultivation methods and ideal realms.The theory of human nature in"Huai Nan Zi" originated from the thoughts of pre-Qin saints.This article divides it into two categories:"Natural Human Nature Theory" and'Good and Evil Human Nature Theory".It briefly introduces the human nature thoughts of Confucianism and Taoism as well as the divergence and blending of views.The content of the humanity thought in "Huai Nan Zi" starts from these aspects.First,humanity is "clean and pleasant"."Tao",as the original principle of the universe,is given naturally and without interference,so the implementation of Taoism is also natural in human beings.The "virtual" nature of Tao is endowed with "quietness",so human nature is quiet;second,"Huai Nan Zi" discusses the theory of human goodness,and puts forward a moderate view of human goodness that is "easy for the good and difficult for the bad"."Huai Nan Zi"deduces human goodness on the basis of humanity's indifference,"the good people,quiet and inaction",the "goodness" it refers to is the natural result of people living in society along the way,quiet and inaction;Again,"Huai Nan Zi" believes that human nature is inherently inaction,pure and unwilling,so it is naturally equal,but at the same time there are actual social differences between people.It uses talent and morality as the evaluation criteria,and divides people into three categories."Huai Nan Zi" human nature cultivation methods and approaches are divided into two aspects:return nature and saint teaching."Return nature",specifically through "save desire","appropriate feelings" and "get rid of knowledge".By exploring the relationship between nature and mind,desire,emotion,and knowledge,this article attempts to deeply understand the theory of mind and nature in "Huai Nan Zi";finally,this article analyzes the ideal state of "Huai Nan Zi".On the whole,the humanity ideology in "Huai Nan Zi" draws on part of the Confucianism on the basis of inheriting the Taoism of the pre-Qin Dynasty.Therefore,it adds the sense of "serving to governance"and its ideal personality is "Zhen Ren" whose nature in the Tao.Meanwhile,"Huai Nan Zi" also eager to provide ideological support for the establishment of the unity of politics in the Han Dynasty.The humanity thought in "Huai Nan Zi" not only reflected the face of the humanity thought in the Han Dynasty before Confucianism,but also absorbed the views of humanity of the various schools in the pre-Qin period,forming an inclusive spirit of humanity.The author believes that the most fundamental reason why Liu An,the king of Huainan chose to write this way,is his dual identity-"Zhen Ren" and "King",one is the natural person who yearns for freedom,and the other is a social role subject to reality.This made Liu An hope to put Confucianism in the framework of Taoism,trying to find a possible balance between Confucianism and Taoism,and between breakthrough and conservation.A "Huai Nan Zi" is subjectively a monologue of Liu An on his own destiny,and objectively provides a possible occasion for the communication of two human thoughts,and makes a rare attempt to the integration of Confucianism and Taoism.