Ma Yifu

Author: Hebei Education Publishing House
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1996-08-01
Features: This book includes almost all of Master Ma Yifu's academic works, such as Taihe Meeting Speeches, Yishan Meeting Speeches, Lixing College Lectures, ErYa Platform Q&A, Hao Shang Miscellaneous Writings, and more. Upon reading, one will naturally understand that "Master Ma's learning stems entirely from self-realization, and all his arguments arise from the experience of reading extensively and practicing diligently." Master Ma possessed profound erudition and exceptional wisdom, ranking among the most discerning masters of the 20th century. He integrated the Three Teachings, traversed the Two Schools, and was well-versed in the Six Classics. He believed that the Confucian Six Arts—poetry, books, rites, music, the I Ching, and the Spring and Autumn Annals—could encompass all academic pursuits. He held that the origins of all academic schools in the world stem from the One Mind, and thus the One Mind can unify all knowledge. He was extraordinary and transcendent, a true recluse among the great Confucian scholars of the 20th century. Advocating freedom of discourse, he founded Lixing College. The works included in this volume—Taihe Meeting Speeches, Yishan Meeting Speeches, Lixing College Lectures (6 volumes), and numerous letters—are all aimed at expounding the Six Arts, reflecting the ideas of integrating the Three Teachings and the unifying role of the Six Arts in all knowledge.
Ma Yifu (1883–1967), originally named Ma Fu, styled himself Zhan Weng, was a native of Shaoxing, Zhejiang, and a master of Chinese classics. Throughout his life, he pursued learning without seeking recognition, yet his knowledge remained profound and unbounded. His reverence for Chinese classics and his advocacy of the Six Arts unifying all knowledge stemmed from his admiration for the Confucian ideals of Song Dynasty philosopher Zhang Zai: "To establish a heart for the world, to establish a destiny for the people, to inherit the lost learning of the sages, and to open a peaceful era for all generations." His major works include Taihe Meeting Speeches, Yishan Meeting Speeches, Lixing College Lectures, ErYa Platform Q&A, and Hao Shang Miscellaneous Writings.