Selected Works of Zhang Dainian

Author: Chen Lai, Editor-in-Chief Zhang Dainian
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-05-01
Features: This book reviews the achievements of these 20th-century philosophical classics, with two points being particularly prominent: , the philosophical research in modern Chinese philosophy is invariably based on Western philosophy and its historical development as a reference background. It is needless to say for scholars who returned from studying abroad in Europe and America. Even for scholars with strong traditional characteristics, such as Liang Shuming and Xiong Shili, their philosophical consciousness was profoundly influenced by Western philosophical concepts. Western philosophy is an exquisite representation of rational analysis and construction in human wisdom. Although the form of Western philosophy is special, many of the discussions within it are universal. While the discourse of Western philosophy is not the fundamental stipulation of what constitutes philosophy, it has become the foundation of the modern philosophical discipline. Studying Western philosophy can provide an important and universally meaningful method for researching other philosophies. An in-depth understanding of Western philosophy and other philosophies in the world will promote our deeper understanding of our own philosophical traditions. Second, the creation of modern Chinese philosophical systems must establish a positive connection with the resources of traditional Chinese philosophy. As Chen Yinke said, "I suspect that if China is able to faithfully introduce the thoughts of North America or Eastern Europe in the future, the result will be no different from the Yogacara school of Xuanzang," which could neither hold a high position in the history of our thought nor ultimately persist. Those who could truly create a systematic philosophy and achieve original contributions must, on one hand, absorb and introduce external doctrines, and on the other hand, not forget the position of their own national tradition. These two attitudes, which are both contrasting and complementary, are the true spirit of Taoism, the old path of Neo-Confucianism, and what two thousand years of intellectual contact between our nation and other nations has revealed." Xiong Shili's New Yi School, Liang Shuming's Neo-Confucianism, Feng Youlan's New Rationalism, He Lin's New Mindology, Jin Yulan's New Realism, and Zhang Dainian's New Materialism all consciously connect to classical Chinese philosophy to varying degrees and integrate with the actual Chinese cultural tradition. All the Chinese philosophers who achieved remarkable success in constructing philosophical systems in the 20th century were the same. The selection of this series emphasizes the philosophical thought of these scholars, giving equal weight to masterpieces and notable works. The selection aims to differ from existing collections, reflecting the unique editorial and arrangement, thereby highlighting the contributions of these scholars to the creation and research of 20th-century Chinese philosophy while also providing the unique interpretations of the series editors. In the past two decades, the academic circles on the mainland of China have made remarkable achievements in researching contemporary Neo-Confucianism. This research began with China's reform and opening-up. After the doors were opened, scholars from overseas, primarily overseas Chinese scholars, followed by scholars from Hong Kong and Taiwan, came to the mainland to give lectures. Subsequently, their papers and works were gradually introduced. Of course, this is only an external factor. The internal reason lies in the reflection of mainland scholars on the harm caused by the May Fourth Movement to "Cultural Revolution" to traditional culture and the cultural heritage of our nation, and the rethinking of the relationship between tradition and modernity. Zhang Dainian (1909-2004), styled Jitong, also known as Yutong. He was born in Beijing in May 1909 and was originally from Xian County, Hebei Province. His father, Zhang Lian, was a jinshi (imperial scholar) in the Guangxu era (1903) and served as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. His older brother, Zhang Songnian, was a modern Chinese philosopher who greatly influenced Zhang Dainian's choice of academic path. In 1928, Zhang Dainian enrolled at Tsinghua University but soon dropped out and applied to the Education Department of Beijing Normal University, where he was admitted. In 1933, upon graduating, he was appointed as a teaching assistant in the Department of Philosophy at Tsinghua University for his numerous published academic papers, engaging in teaching work in philosophy. After the "July 7 Incident," Tsinghua University moved south, and he remained in Beijing,. In 1943, he taught at the private China University as a lecturer in philosophy. After the war of resistance, in 1946, Tsinghua University reopened, and he returned to work in the Department of Philosophy at Tsinghua University. In 1951, he was promoted to professor. In 1952, during the nationwide adjustment of higher education institutions, he was transferred to the Department of Philosophy at Peking University and continued his work in teaching and researching Chinese philosophy. This book is selected and compiled into three parts: philosophical theory, the history of Chinese philosophy, and cultural studies, with the content of each part arranged in chronological order according to the time of writing or publication. The advantage of this arrangement is to more comprehensively present the main academic achievements of Mr. Zhang as a philosopher, philosopher of philosophy, and master of Chinese classics to the readers. Due to space limitations, this selected collection only includes the most representative papers of Mr. Zhang from different periods, while his monographs, except for "Tian Ren Wu Lun," can only include the most essential parts. Some monographs, such as "A Concise History of Chinese Materialist Thought" and "The Study of Historical Materials in the History of Chinese Philosophy," are not included. This is done to enable readers to gain a comprehensive understanding of Mr. Zhang's life and his main academic achievements.