Liao Ping Meng Wentong

Author: Liu Mengxi, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1996-10-01
Features: The pioneer of the modern academic movement of "reforming ancient traditions" and "doubting and refuting ancient forgeries" — Liao Ping, was a renowned Confucian scholar whose ideas deeply influenced Kang Youwei. This volume includes his representative works such as Studies on the Ancient and Modern Schools, Records of Four Transformations in Confucian Studies at Siyi Hall, and Records of Six Transformations in Confucian Studies.
A disciple who inherited Liao Ping's legacy, Meng Wentong, was the pioneer in developing systematic research methods for ancient ethnic and cultural studies in modern times. His studies ranged from Confucian classics to history, and from Buddhist and Taoist texts to the depths of Confucian philosophy, achieving profound understanding. This volume includes his representative works such as Microcosm of Ancient History, Origin of Confucian Studies, and Five Discourses on Confucianism.
Liao Ping (1852–1932), originally named Dengting, later changed his name to Ping, styled Jiping, was a native of Jingyan County, Sichuan Province. He was a modern scholar and Confucianist. In his early years, he studied the Song School of Confucianism before specializing in the Jindao and Gudao branches of Confucian classics. He claimed to have undergone six transformations in his academic pursuits, with the first two having the most significant impact. His major works include Studies on the Ancient and Modern Schools, Knowing the Sage, and Refuting Liu. In 1903, he was dismissed for being accused of "departing from Confucian orthodoxy" and "speaking from personal whims." In 1911, he became the chief editor of Railway Monthly and supported the Sichuan Road Protection Movement. After the establishment of the Great Han Sichuan Military Government, he served as the President of the Secretariat. In 1914, he became the of Sichuan National Studies School and later concurrently served as a professor at Sichuan Normal College and West China Union University. He authored over 140 works during his lifetime, most of which were compiled into Si Yi Hall Confucian Classics Series and later expanded into Six-Translation Classics Series.
Meng Wentong (1894–1968), originally named Erdá, was from Yanting County, Sichuan Province. He was one of China's modern outstanding historians. Since the 1920s, he taught at Chengdu University, Chengdu Normal College, Chengdu National Academy, Central University, Henan University, Peking University, and Hebei Women's Normal College. In the 1940s, he became the director of Sichuan Provincial Library and concurrently served as a professor at West China Union University and Sichuan University. After the founding of the People's Republic, he served as a professor at West China Union University and Sichuan University, while also holding positions as a researcher and academic advisor at the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Meng Wentong dedicated his life to the study of ancient Chinese history and academic culture, achieving profound expertise and remarkable accomplishments. His major works include Microcosm of Ancient History, Collected and of Li Rong's Annotations on the Tao Te Ching, Collected and of Cheng Xuanying's Explanations on the Tao Te Ching, Studies on Minor Ethnic Groups in the Zhou and Qin Periods, and Origin of Confucian Studies.