Seminar on Chinese Intellectual History 7 Han Confucianism

Seminar on Chinese Intellectual History 7. Han Confucianism: Dong Zhongshu and the Remoulding of Confucianism Chun-chieh Huang National Chair Professor National Taiwan University Research Fellow, Academia Sinica Email: cc 10. huang@msa. hinet. net http: //huang. cc. ntu. edu. tw

I. Lecture Notes:

1. Introduction: Dong Zhongshu 董仲舒 (179104 B. C. ) in historical context 1: 1. Dong's Philosophy: "Interaction between Heaven and Man" is the central theme of Han Confucianism — "cosmo-centric philosophy. " Remoulder of Confucianism in Han 1: 2. Dong was responsible for the Han Wu-di's decision for exalting Confucianism as state orthodoxy. He answered the historic question

Dong Zhongshu Han Wudi

2. Confucianism as Articulated by Dong Zhongshu: 2: 1. Dong Zhongshu incorporated the thought of Yin-Yang (陰陽) and Five Agents (Phases) ( 五 行) into Confucianism, and lay the foundation of Yin-Yang "cosmo-centric philosophy" for Han Confucians.

3. Dong Zhongshu 's Confucianism in Context: 3: 1. In Historical Context: ‧The rise of imperial power ‧"double-edged sword" － to uphold the sovereignty "王" － to check the power — "cosmic legitimation"

3: 2. In Philosophical Context: Dong spoke of "the correspondence of man and the Numerical categories of Heaven. "

"In his real character man has both humanity (ren) and greed. The material forces responsible for both humanity and greed are found in his person. What is called the person is received from Heaven (Tian, Nature). Heaven has its dual operation of yin and yang (passive and active cosmic forces), and the person also has his dual nature of humanity and greed. "

thesis — ren (benevolence) Yang antithesis — greed Ying Realm of "to be" vs. Realm of "ought to be"

Way of Heaven becomes a metaphysical law or empirical fact. It has nothing to do with the problem of value. Man corresponds to Heaven — subject (人應天) | the determined

4. Conclusion 4: 1. The central issue of Confucian philosophy: how is morality possible? a) Transformation of self as the basis of transformation of the world b) “psycho-centric” philosophy → “Cosmo centric” philosophy * Dong Zhongshu’s place in Chinese intellectual history 4: 2 The place of man in Han Confucianism

II. Assignments:

III. Discussion Questions:

*1. What are the questions that Han Confucians encountered in the political context of Han Empire? In what way did Dong Zhongshu resolve it? *2. Was Dong Zhongshu a Confucian? In what sense? And Why?

Keyword: 1. “cosmo-centric philosophy” 2. “Man receives mandate from Heaven”