A Collection of Yu Yingshi. Volume 10 (Song and Ming Neo-Confucianism and Political Culture)

Author: Yu Ying-shih
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: This book consists of two parts. The first part focuses on the origins and development of Neo-Confucianism (Li Xue) during the Song Dynasty and its intricate relationship with political and cultural dynamics. The second part examines the relationship between Neo-Confucianism and political culture in the Ming Dynasty. The entire work constructs a comprehensive historical panorama based on primary historical sources. By tracing the historical context and specific circumstances of the Song Dynasty, it reconstructs the actual process of the emergence and evolution of Neo-Confucianism from its inception to completion. The author emphasizes from a historical perspective that the origins and development of Neo-Confucianism (or Dao Xue) must first be placed within the unique political and cultural framework of the Song Dynasty to achieve a more comprehensive understanding. The book provides a political interpretation of the literature on Song and Ming Neo-Confucianism (such as the Two Cheng, Zhang Zai, Chu Hsi, etc.), revealing a political culture of the Song and Ming Dynasties that differs significantly from the traditional scholarly constructions. Grounded in profound academic rigor and historical awareness, the author extensively masters historical sources, meticulously weaves together the interpretation of textual and archival materials, and delves deeper into the subtle layers of the inner thoughts of ancient scholars. As a result, the book not only presents grand conclusions but also offers detailed dialectical analyses, inevitably challenging the conventional scholarly assertions and opening up new perspectives for the study of Song and Ming Neo-Confucianism.