Title

A Study of The Brief Interpretation of Four Books by Guangyue Laoren, A Popular Religions Leader in Late Qing China  

Author

Yun-ying Chung

Genre

Article  

Pages

1-33     

Download

PDF

Language

Chinese

Key words

Guangyue Laoren, popular religion, The Brief Interpretation of Four Books, taichi, cultivating Qi  

Abstract

    This study is about researching The Brief Interpretation of Four Books (《四書說約》) written by Guangyue Laoren in late Qing China. The commentary is a typical work for interpreing Confucianism by a popular religious leader. He regarded The Four Books as a work of Salvation, so he interpreted The Four Books from a religious view.

    The Brief Interpretation of Four Books focuses on the relationship of part and whole. The main feature of The Brief Interpretation of Four Books is to interpret Mencius, especially Qi (氣). He developed the religious concept of "Cultivating Qi"(養氣) to interpret Mencius. He classfied Qi into two models: one nature(先天) and the other nurture (後天). He thought that people could get the salvation by cultivating natural Qi. The meaning of cultivating Qi by Guangyue Laoren includes constant practice and salvation.