Research on the Thoughts of the Seven Scholars Before the Qin Dynasty

Author: Tong Shuyi, author, Tong Jiaoying, revised
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: Tong Shuyi (May 26, 1908 – January 8, 1968), styled Pisheng, styled Yong'an. Born in Wuhu, Anhui. In 1935, he met Mr. Gu Jiegang and joined his school. Mr. Tong was a renowned modern historian of China, achieving significant accomplishments in the textual criticism of ancient history and classical texts, the study of ancient geography, the study of pre-Qin intellectual history, the exploration of historical theory, the study of ancient economic history, the study of the history of Chinese art, and various fields of psychology and psychiatry. This book is a collection of his research papers on pre-Qin intellectual history. With the unique perspective of a historian, the author conducts discussions on seven representative pre-Qin thinkers—Confucius, Mozi, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, and Han Feizi—revealing their respective cosmology, ethics, political views, educational philosophies, and mutual relationships, thereby showcasing the main characteristics of Confucianism, Mohism, Taoism, and Legalism to some extent. Based on the book 《Pre-Qin Seven Thinkers and Their Thoughts》 published by Qilu Book Society in January 1982, this edition includes additional essays such as 《On the Progressive Aspects of Confucius's Political Thought》 and 《The Position of Confucius's Thought of "Raising Talents" in Pre-Qin Intellectual History》, appended to 《Studies on Confucius's Thought》. The preface written by Mr. Yang Xiangkui for the Qilu edition of 《Pre-Qin Seven Thinkers and Their Thoughts》 is included in the appendix.