Song Dynasty Neo-Confucianism and Taoism, Part 1 and Part 2

Author: Kong Linghong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The stages of the development of Chinese philosophy trace back to ancient times, passing through the Shang and Zhou dynasties, to the pre-Qin era when Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, Legalism, and Names schools flourished. Each clearly recognized its existence among diverse others, mutually influencing one another while competing as peaks, each leading its own era—what could be called the golden age of Chinese philosophy. Among these, Confucianism and Taoism had the deepest impact on Chinese culture. Later, the Yellow Elder Taoism thrived during the Han dynasty and was even exclusively revered under Emperor Wu of Han. However, if it could not continue to extend and transcend, deepen its intellectual foundation, and instead close itself off, even Confucianism and Taoism would inevitably decline. The second stage began in the Eastern Han dynasty and reached its peak in the Northern and Southern Dynasties. During this period, while new Taoism found opportunities for self-transcendence in metaphysics, reviving its vitality, Taoist philosophy ultimately relied on the development of Taoism to continue its legacy. The third stage is the period of Song and Ming Confucianism, primarily based on Confucian thought, further integrating the Buddhist, Taoist, and Taoist Daoist ideas that had previously challenged it. The fourth stage is the modern period of Chinese philosophy, which began in 1583 when the Italian Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci introduced Western science, philosophy, and Christianity, posing new challenges to Chinese philosophy.