ISSN : 1229-9618(Print)
ISSN : 2671-7506(Online)
ISSN : 2671-7506(Online)
Chinese Studies Vol.52 pp.73-88
DOI : https://doi.org/10.14378/KACS.2015.52.52.6
DOI : https://doi.org/10.14378/KACS.2015.52.52.6
Status of Confucius(孔子)․Mencius(孟子) and their Disciples shown in Choisul(崔述)’s Writings
Abstract
Choisul(崔述)(1740-1816) is the historical research scholar in the Qing Dynasty. By writing Gosinrok(考信錄) known to be the best result of the methodology of historical research in the Qing Dynasty during his entire lifetime, he was evaluated to have made a new epoch in research on the ancient Chinese History. The status of Confucius and Mencius can be said to have been more firm in the moral philosophy genealogy of Confucian School. By the way, as presented by Hanyu in Dotongnon, the status of Confucius and Mencius was set separately and his view on the level and stage their disciples reached was also expressed in the above-mentioned Choisul’s writings. Citing Dotongnon(道統論) shown in Hanyu(韓愈)’s「Wondo(原道)」, Choisul set the absolute status of ‘Confucius is an initiator of Dotong(道統) leading to Yao(堯)- Shun(舜)-Wu(禹)-Tang (湯)-Mun(文)-Mu(武)-Jugong(周公)-Confucius(孔子). This is similar to the case of Mencius. In the chaos entering a turbulent age through the Spring and Autumn Warring States Period, Mencius was set as an initiator of Dotong(道統) after Confucius. Choisul also showed great interest in writers and disciples of Confucius and Mencius who ‘made Confucius and Mencius.’ Hence, by sequentially arranging Confucius's 24 disciples and other 12 people from Anja(顔子) to Jasa(子思) depending on virtue and merit, he historically studied their achievements in detail. While setting the status of Confucius’s disciples, Choisul boldly disorganized existing so called ‘Gongmunsipchul(孔門十哲: Confucius’s excellent 10 disciples)’. Of ‘Gongmunsipchul(孔門十哲)’, he excluded 5 people of Jayu(子游), Jaha(子夏), Jajang(子張), Jaeah(宰我), Yeomyu(冉有) to 12th – 16th, outside the top 10 and arranged 4 people of Yuja(有子), Wonsa(原思), Gongseohwa(公西華), Jacheon(子賤) in 8th – 11th, much more advanced ranking than them. In addition, he traced and classified the achievements of the disciples appearing in 《Mencius》and thoroughly studied by dividing them into four grades from ‘eminent disciples’ such as Akjeongja(樂正子), Gongsonchuk(公孫丑), Manjang(萬章) to the group unable to conclude whether they are disciples or not.