Ye Tan Collection (Confucianism and Economics)

Author: Ye Tan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: It seems that many Chinese people are very concerned about the "Year of the Horse," some say it's a lucky year with good things happening, while others say it's important to wear a "red waistband" to ward off evil. No matter what, in a few days, it will be my 48th "Year of the Horse" birthday, and I can hardly believe it! The life of a scholar has made me often forget the passage of time and the turning of the seasons, as if there are only winter and summer, not spring and autumn. In fact, at this moment, I haven't fully grasped the helplessness of "the brevity of life," nor do I feel the excitement that a scholar should have when publishing a book, especially their own collection. My heart is truly calm, its rhythm harmoniously aligned with the ticking of the clock. Is this what is called "equanimity"? Counting the years, I have published over twenty books, including co-authored works and translations, which is merely the "duty" of a professional scholar, but publishing a collection is something I have never done before. This is undoubtedly a major event, especially at the age of 48, which can be considered a milestone in life. My dear friend, Mio Kishimoto, has agreed to write the preface for this book, which has once again triggered my "laziness" to want to offload the burden of writing the preface onto this Chinese scholar with whom I have shared a friendship of over a decade. The moral cultivation and rigorous yet humble demeanor of Professor Kishimoto of Tokyo University are well-known in the international academic community. But then again, I think I should at least provide some explanation, whether for the readers or for myself. So here I go—
My field is the history of Chinese economic thought. In 1985, I entered the doctoral program under the guidance of Professor Wu Bao San of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. It has been nearly twenty years since then. At that time, I had just obtained a master's degree in literature from Wuhan University and was about to start working at Beijing Normal University. I was encouraged to apply for the doctoral program by the kind and amiable Professor Wu, whom I had never met before. He often mentioned that compared to economic theory, the foundation in literature and history was more challenging, and before me, he had never accepted any doctoral students. Back then, it was not as common as now to obtain a doctorate; even in the "prestigious" field of economics, by 1988, only 65 people had been awarded economics doctorates in China. Chinese economic thought history was the only branch of economics in mainland China until that year, when it was first awarded as a doctorate to Zhang Hongyi of Peking University and myself from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The theoretical characteristics, unique advantages, and research and education of this discipline are detailed in the monograph "Studies on the History of Chinese Economic Thought—Focusing on Economic Thought," published concurrently. It can be said that my ability to consistently "sit on a cold bench" and adhere to my academic field is inseparable from the above experiences. 2005 marks the centennial anniversary of my late mentor, Professor Wu, and this collection is also a tribute to him!
Studying the history of Chinese economic thought requires a high level of knowledge structure and theoretical literacy. Setting aside academic "male chauvinism," even those who do not discriminate against female scholars generally believe that women are more likely to succeed in disciplines such as literature, linguistics, and education, while it is difficult for them in fields like philosophy, history, and economics. This may have some truth, but I am not entirely convinced. I believe that while there are gender differences, they are not the main factor. The key is to consciously refine and address one's weaknesses. As the saying goes, "Heaven rewards diligence," but diligence is merely the prerequisite for scholarship, while the accumulation of theoretical literacy and the exploration of new research methods are the foundation for academic innovation. This is also a summary of my twenty-plus years of academic and research experience.
Academic research differs from teaching. The latter is mainly about imparting knowledge and inspiring thinking, while the former focuses on seeking truth and innovation: either new discoveries of materials, new interpretations of data, revisions of established theories, new expansions of content, new research methods, or new explorations of theories—this is largely the case in humanities and social sciences research. Since my master's studies, I have consciously focused on strengthening the learning and exploration of theoretical methods, which is related to the influence of Professor Qi Xia, a Song Dynasty historian, during my undergraduate studies at Hebei University. Theoretical methods also require "specific application" or "keeping pace with the times," and dogmatism, rigidity, or blind imitation are unacceptable. In the recollections of the wisteria-lined path on Luojia Mountain, what stands out more are the patient guidance of different subject supervisors such as Zhou Dapu, Que Xunwu, and Yin Jin, as well as the rare inclusiveness of the university, which allowed me, as a graduate student in Chinese literature, to take courses in philosophy, economics, history, and library science, laying a foundation for research.
Joining Professor Wu's school, I began to receive rigorous training in economics and deeply felt the style of this Harvard-trained scholar, which is elaborated in the included essay "Forty-Nine Years of Life." More importantly, I learned from him that theory is a tool, not a constraint on thinking or a fixed answer, and that research is not about finding evidence to support existing conclusions. This is too important! Thus, I finally grasped the doorframe of "scholarship." Until today, my understanding of Wu Chengming's saying "History has no fixed rules" is inseparable from the gradual evolution of this line of thinking. Recently, the eighty-seven-year-old Professor Wu has even written a preface for my monograph on the history of economic thought. Over the years, I have not strayed far from the pursuit of history, and the profound erudition and cynical spirit of Professor Wang Zengyu, along with his meticulous and caring attention, have been constant to me.
I officially published my first academic paper in the spring of 1981, when I was 24 and in my third year of undergraduate studies. I published two papers: one on the economy of the Sui Dynasty and another on pre-Qin scholarship. Perhaps by chance, my exploration of economics and Confucianism began like this. It has been exactly 24 years since then, half of my life. In these 24 years, I have published over 130 papers in Chinese and foreign languages, and I have selected 30 Chinese works for this collection, making only minor adjustments to the annotations for publication requirements and necessary corrections to the wording to preserve the original style. These papers were originally published in journals such as Social Sciences in China, Historical Research, Economic Research, Philosophical Research, Social Sciences Research, Chinese Historical Studies, and Journal of Chinese Economic History, as well as academic journals in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Many of them have been reprinted, cited, and even awarded. Here, I faithfully record the footsteps of my academic and research journey, with each article striving to offer something new—whether through the first discussion, proposing new arguments, or revising established views. Although some may seem naive or rough today, they represent my earnest exploration.
The selected articles revolve around the theme of "Confucianism and Economics," which is both the core of my interdisciplinary research over the past two decades and the essence of the theoretical characteristics of the history of Chinese economic thought. In the traditional era, when Confucianism dominated cultural forms, it occupied a dominant position. At the same time, as the sister volume to the monograph "Studies on the History of Chinese Economic Thought," as pointed out by Professor Wu in his preface, many contents of the monograph are the accumulation of long-term research. Indeed, the collection is the foundation and preliminary research for the monograph, and many of its ideas and "problem awareness" are still discernible in the collection. Some of the issues raised in the papers have been further explored in the monograph, and some papers were originally the results of related research. Academic innovation must be based on profound theoretical exploration and the analysis and summary of previous research, which is also the significance of academic history.
The collection is divided into five parts: Theory, History, Thought, Comparison, and Reality.
- Theory: The six selected articles focus on my theoretical explorations in economic culture and academic history. They include research on traditional economic concepts and modernization in the late 20th century, discussions on the integration of economic culture, and examinations of the "roots" of "Chinese economics" from the perspective of semantic interpretation. Based on the newly unearthed Guodian Chu bamboo slips, I propose new arguments regarding the fundamental categories of Taoism and Confucianism, such as "non-action." Since the 21st century, I have focused on comparing the moral ethics and economic interests of Chinese and foreign economic thought, and for the first time, conducted a detailed study of the history of Chinese economic thought. These studies have made preliminary innovative attempts in terms of materials, perspectives, theories, and methods, and have attracted attention from scholars both at home and abroad.
- History: The seven articles focus on the important transitional period in Chinese history—the Song Dynasty. They examine the transformation of the civilizational system in Chinese feudal society, the historical and cultural characteristics of industrial and commercial development, and use new historical materials to refute Sima Guang's conservative and unchanging traditional views. By commenting on the reform ideals and practices of Emperor Shenzong, I raise questions about the "Wang Anshi Reforms" as previously understood. Additionally, I study the "money shortage" in the Song Dynasty from the perspective of economic thought, proposing some new theoretical viewpoints. From the perspective of legal history, I examine the printing industry and copyright protection in the Song Dynasty, affirming that the Chinese had an early awareness of copyright protection and implemented measures such as the "law against counterfeiting." The unique characteristics of the Song Dynasty make it a key research focus, and many of the arguments in the studies are original contributions.
- Thought: The eight articles are all on the history of Chinese economic thought, with a focus on the Song Dynasty. They compare the similarities and differences in the economic thought of Sima Guang and Wang Anshi, examine the historical transformation of Chinese commodity economy concepts in the Song Dynasty, particularly analyzing the paper currency theory of the Song Dynasty, which holds an important place in the history of world currency. They also incorporate the economic views of emperors into the study of economic thought, presenting them as the concentrated expression of the court's economic will. The study of economic theory during the two Song dynasties is of great importance in the history of Chinese economic thought. The specialized study of the "defense of the rich" in the Song Dynasty revises the general belief that such ideas only appeared in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The comprehensive examination and analysis of the "profit" concept, which has spanned thousands of years, deepens the study of economic thought history. The study of the economic thought of the Zhejiang Dong School in the Song Dynasty gives "practical learning" new content and theoretical interpretation. These new explorations have had a significant impact.
- Comparison: The four articles focus on Sino-Japanese comparisons, which is the first time in the world that we have advocated and conducted empirical studies of East Asian, particularly Sino-Japanese, economic thought. Starting from the comparison of the deep structures of Chinese and Japanese cultures, they briefly discuss the foundations and similarities and differences in the commodity economy concepts of the late modern period. They analyze the beginning of the systematic study of Chinese economic thought in Japan and conduct in-depth research on the relationship between the economic thought of "Shigemichi Shinsho" and Confucianism, which are new areas of research. Due to the fact that the papers were mainly published overseas, they have received significant attention.
- Reality: The four articles also focus on economic culture. Their main exploration is the relationship between national culture and the development of regional economies. They explore the development strategies of "junction" regions of administrative divisions, summarize and analyze the characteristics and driving forces of the development of national culture, examine the sustainable development of regional economies and the relationship between ethnic pluralism and integrated culture, and conduct an economic analysis of the value of cultural relics. These studies are of practical significance and operational value.
- Conclusion: "Forty-Nine Years of Life" is my heartfelt reflection on my academic journey and life choices. Writing this, I seem to see the winding path of my academic pursuits converge into the five parts mentioned above, like five petalsling around the core of the flower of "Confucianism and Economics." Although they are not on the same plane and have different colors, they vividly outline the basic shape of the academic flower: theory as the guide, history as the foundation, thought as the core, comparison as the support, and reality as the destination. This flower, this plant, is rooted in the fertile soil of the history of Chinese economic thought. This soil, this person, quietly survives at the edge of the "prestigious" field. This tranquility, this self-fulfillment, cannot be understood by fame, fortune, or power.
In fact, Laozi said long ago that "fortune and misfortune are intertwined"—perhaps this is what is meant by my impending "knowing" of the "Heavenly Mandate"? In truth, if one is undistracted, success is inevitable, and "the edge can also shine!" A careful reader will surely discover a distinctive and promising discipline from the reading. Because of this, whether facing flowers with a smile or stumbling through thorns, I dare not let a moment of negligence pass. The years of youth, accompanied by the dim light of the lamp and the cold inkstone, have passed without regret, leaving behind these words—naive, passionate, exploratory, and contemplative.