Taoistic Confucianism Yang Hsiung精选.pdfVIP

••• 15 ••• TAOISTIC CONFUCIANISM : YANG HSIUNG YAN G HSIUN G (53 B.C.-A.D. 18) is usually given a position in the history of Chinese thought, though a minor one, because of his doctrine of human nature as a mixture of good and evil. The theory is asserted only in a sentence and is not elaborated upon or argued. Still it repre- sents a real advance because it avoids the extremes of Mencius and Hsün Tzu (fl . 298-238 B.C.) and the arbitrary division into the two levels of nature and feelings by Tung Chung-shu (c. 179-c. 104 B.C.), and offers a significant alternative. It also underlines the fact that the problem of human nature remained a major one throughout the history of Chinese philosophy. As to his metaphysics, by which he is identified with the term Tai- hsüan (the Supremely Profound Principle or Great Mystery), he does no more than repeat Taoism, except that he combines it with Confucian ethics, in which his real interests lay. In this respect, he reflects the syncretic spirit of the Han period (206 B.C.-A.D. 220). At the same time, he exhibits a certain independent quality in refusing to accept the Confucian doctrine of the periodic appearance of sages, which was explicit in Mencius and implicit in Tung Chung-shu. He also rejects the popular belief in immortals. A man of extensive learning and high in- tegrity, he endured poverty and led an undistinguished public life.1 The following selections are from his two books, the Fa-yen (Model Sayings) and the Tai-hsüan c