Lecture19 NeoTaoism Nov 10 Chinese Philosophy Lectures杜兰大学中国哲学课堂教学PPT.ppt

PHIL 2931 Neo Taoism More Background on Neo-Taoism Negative Response to the Social Background (avoid the world) Interested in Metaphysics Response to Han Confucianism Rationalism, or Metaphysical Schools Sentimentalism, and “Pure Conversations” Chan 314-318 Wang Pi (226-249 AD) 王弼 and Ho yen (195-249AD) 何晏 Both are people in Wei 魏 (in Three Kingdoms period) Wong Pi’s commentaries on Lao Tzu was once the oldest version of Lao Tzu in China (until 1973) (that’s why Chan 316 says “that on the latter being the oldest in existence.”) See Fung 219 on Wang Pi’s conversation on Wu (non-being), Forgetful and empty, Position of Confucius. Chan 318-325 Hsiang Hsiu (221 to 300 AD)向秀and Kuo Hsiang (d. 312 AD) 郭象 Great commentaries on Chuang Tzu Not sure whether Kuo promoting some ideas from Hsiang, or Plagiarism. While Wan Pi’s commentaries on Lao Tzu focuses a lot on “Wu” (nothing; non-being), Hsiang-Kuo commentaries explain both Wu and Yu (being) Tao is Nothing Tao = Wu, non-being, not a thing This explains why Tao is “un-namable” Prior to yin and yang, and prior to tai chi (See ch 22 in Fung 221) No creator (ch 2 in Fung 221) [Similar to the objection against existence of God/first cause from Russell?] “Self-transformation” of Things If Tao is non-being, how do we have things? Tu hua 獨化 (self-transfomration) No creator, but things are nevertheless not lacking in relations, one with another. Everything needs every other thing, but everything nevertheless exists for its own sake and not for the sake of any other thing. See also 19 in Chan 330 (and also “principle” in Chan) Yu-Wei and Wu-Wei World, society, is always changing (continuous state of flux) “change is a force, unobservable yet most strong” (Fung 223-224) New interpretation of Wu-Wei (do nothing) and Yu-Wei (do something): Following the change and new institution is wu-wei; conserving to the old institution is yu-wei. Knowledge and Imitation Two meanings of Perfect men. Perfect men with a lot of knowledge