Wei-Jin Metaphysics II
People of Wei-Jin era had refined tastes in ‘I Chin’ (the book of Changes), "Lao-Tzu" and "Chuang-Tzu";
they named the three books as ‘Sang Shuan’ (the Three Unspeakable). The
representative figures with such a refined tastes include: He Yan, Wang
Bi, Ruan Ji, Ji Kang, to Xiu, Guo Xiang, Pei Dung, Zhang Zhan, Chi Dung,
Tao An and Seng Chao, etc.. Their interest of thought was generally in
the elaboration of the following issues: ‘Beng Mo’ (wholeness), ‘Ti Yong’
(theory and practice), ‘Yi Duo’ (one and many), ‘Ying Yi’ (words and
meaning), ‘Tsi Rang and Ming Chiao’ (nature and the Confucian etiquette
and Confucianism), and the similarities and differences among Confucianism,
Buddhism, Daoism. Based on the literature on metaphysics written by famous
scholars and the material regarding pure talk at that time, this course
is aiming at leading students to read, to analyze and to interpret and
annotate. In addition, we will aim at some important topics among them
to discuss in depth. Thus, on the one hand, we can explore together the
characteristics, the connotation, the evolution of the Wei-Jin metaphysics
and its status and influence in the history of Chinese intellectual thought.
On the other hand, to provide the graduate students with the ability
to interpret and inquire into the master pieces of traditional Chinese
philosophical literature.
B. Course content:
(1) Surveys on the background of the origin and development of Wei-Jin
metaphysics.
(2) Metaphysics during the period of Cheng-Shih: He Yan, Wang Bi
(3) Metaphysics during the period of Chu-Lin: Ji Kang, Riang Ji (concurrently
with Hsiang Hsiu and so on)
(4) Metaphysics during the Yuan Kang period: Pei Dung, Kuo Siang (concurrently
with Ou Yang Chiang, Chi Dung and so on)
(5) Metaphysics during the East Chin Dynasty period: Zhang Zhan, Seng
Chao (concurrently with Lieh-Tzu, Sun Sheng, Tao An and so on)
(6) Discussion of special topics: ‘Yio Wu’ (Whether there is and is not),
‘Ian I’ (words and meaning), ‘Shing Ching’ (the dispositions), ‘Yio Tai
Wu Tai” (to rely on and not to rely on), ‘Tzi Jiang Ming Chiao’ (nature
and Confucian etiquette), ‘Sheng Yio Wu Ai Le’ , ‘Yiang Sheng’ (the keeping
in good health), ‘Dung Ching’ (motion and motionless), ‘Hsing Shen Sheng
Mie’ (the birth and extinguishment of body and spirit), ‘Ru Shih Tao
I Tung’ (the similarities and difference among Confucianism, Buddhism
and Taoism), etc..
(7) The relation between metaphysics and politics, society, academic,
religion, life and so forth.
(8) The status and the influence of the thought of pure talks in the
history of Chinese intellectual thought and its significance in modern
era.
B. Instructional progress
The proceeding of this course will be divided into two stages; stage
I and stage II. The first stage will be focused primarily on the general
introduction on Wei-Chin metaphysics, metaphysics of the Cheng-Shih
period, metaphysics of the Chu-Lin period and metaphysics of the Yuan-Kang
period. The second stage will be centered on the discussion of metaphysics
during the East Jin Dynasty and topics on metaphysics. Students plan
to take this course must have taken Wei-Chin metaphysics I before,
(Students only choose ‘Wei-Jin Metaphysics I’ to study is acceptable.)
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