Li Guangdi (1642-1718) and the official Cheng-Zhu learning in the early Qing = Li Guangdi yu Qing chu guan fang Cheng Zhu li xue

Abstract

Li Guangdi (1642-1718) was a prominent figure in Early Qing. He was one of the most important scholars of the Cheng-Zhu School (程朱學派) and an influential politician. Many essays have been written on his political influence. However, there are still some aspects of his thought that have not been studied. This thesis attempts to analyze the thought of Li and appraise his role in the realm of Chinese Intellectual History. The thesis also traces the origins of Li’s thought. Li was affected by both Cheng-Zhu School and Lu–Wang School (陸王學派) in Neo-Confucianism (宋明理學). Li combined the doctrines of the two schools instead of simply following the traditions of Cheng-Zhu. It resulted in the complicity of his thought. He was devoted to Cheng-Zhu School but his ideas on the Great Learning (Da Xue Da Xue , 大學) originated from the Lu–Wang School. Li was also criticized for flattering the Kangxi Emperor (1654-1722, r. 1661-1722), an enthusiast of the Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucian School, by adopting the Cheng-Zhu doctrines and belittling those of the Lu–Wang School in his studies. In fact, despite consulting the official Cheng-Zhu interpretation, Li always tried to synthesize the Cheng-Zhu, Lu-Wang and other Neo-Confucian ideas and give his own understanding in the preach of Confucian teaching. The thesis also focuses on the comparison of the thoughts of Li with those of other official-scholars of the Cheng-Zhu School like Lu Longqi (陸隴其, 1630-1692) and Tang bin (湯斌, 1627-1687). Besides, it compares the similarities and differences in the scholarship between Li and the scholars of the Zhexi School (浙西學派) such as as Zhang Lüxiang (張履祥, 1611-1674), Lof Philosophy at The University of Hong Kong in March 2017 1629-1683) and their followers ,who had never rendered their service to the Qing, revealing the interrelationships between scholars of the Cheng-Zhu School in Early Qing.