Title

The Exegetical Method Used in Lü Dagui’s Studies of the Chunqiu

Author

Kang Kai-lin

Genre

Article

Pages

707-741

DOI

10.6503/THJCS.202112_51(4).0003

Download

PDF

Language

Chinese

Key words

Lü Dagui 呂大圭, Zhu Xi 朱熹, the Chunqiu 春秋, principle and desire, worldly change

Abstract

This article analyzes Lü Dagui’s 呂大圭 (1227-1275) conclusion that the compositional techniques of consistent terminology and unique expression were used to make differences in the Chunqiu’s 春秋 original categories become universal. Following this line of thought leads to an understanding of the flow of worldly change in the text. In addition, the fact that specificity is selected from universality, and that ethical principles are derived from unique expressions, proves not only that Confucius established right and wrong as well as good and evil through his composition of the Chunqiu, but also that he used the text to define heavenly principle and the human mind. Lü’s interpretative methodology continued many of Zhu Xi’s 朱熹 (1130-1200) basic ideas regarding the text, and established a balance between the general and the unique that integrated theories from other schools. In terms of continuation and succession, Lü can be said to have developed a new approach, which he expanded into a more complete interpretative system, and which served as an important forerunner of the “compromise and unity” school of the Yuan dynasty.