Kaozheng (Chinese: 考證; "search for evidence"[1]), alternatively called kaoju xue (Chinese: 考據學; "evidential scholarship") and Qian–Jia School (Chinese: 乾嘉學派),[2] was a school and approach to study and research in the Qing dynasty of China from about 1600 to 1850. It was most prominent during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor and Jiaqing Emperor (hence the alternate name "Qian–Jia School"). The approach corresponds to the methods of modern textual criticism, and was sometimes associated with an empirical approach to scientific topics as well.
Some of the most important first generation of Qing thinkers were Ming loyalists, at least in their hearts, including Gu Yanwu, Huang Zongxi, and Fang Yizhi. Partly in reaction to the presumed laxity and excess of the late Ming, they turned to Kaozheng, or evidential learning, which emphasized careful textual study and critical thinking.[3][4]
Rather than regarding kaozheng as a local phenomenon of Jiangnan and Beijing areas, it has been proposed to view it as a general trend in development of Chinese scholarship in light of contribution of Cui Shu (1740–1816).[5]
Towards the end of the Qing and in the early 20th century, reform scholars such Liang Qichao, Hu Shih and Gu Jiegang saw in kaozheng a step towards development of empirical mode of scholarship and science in China. Conversely, Carsun Chang and Xu Fuguan criticized kaozheng as intellectually sterile and politically dangerous.[6]
While Yu Ying-shih in the late 20th century has tried to demonstrate continuity between kaozheng and neo-Confucianism in order to provide a non-revolutionary basis for Chinese culture, Benjamin Elman has argued that kaozheng constituted "an empirical revolution" that broke with the stance of neo-Confucian combination of teleological considerations with scholarship.[7]
Influence in JapanEdit
The methods of kaozheng were imported into Edo-era Japan as kōshō or kōshōgaku.[8] This approach combined textual criticism and empiricism in an effort to find ancient, "original" meanings of texts. The earliest use of kaozheng methods in Edo Japan was Keichū's critical edition of the Man'yōshū.[9] These methods were eventually used by the Kokugaku to argue that modern science was indigenous to Japan; they also contributed to the Kokugaku critique of Buddhism.[10]
Quirin, Michael. "Scholarship, Value, Method, and Hermeneutics in Kaozheng: Some Reflections on Cui Shu (1740-1816) and the Confucian Classics". History and Theory 35.4:34-53. Available at www.academicroom.com, retrieved 18.5.2014.
kaozheng, chinese, 考證, search, evidence, alternatively, called, kaoju, chinese, 考據學, evidential, scholarship, qian, school, chinese, 乾嘉學派, school, approach, study, research, qing, dynasty, china, from, about, 1600, 1850, most, prominent, during, reign, qianlon. Kaozheng Chinese 考證 search for evidence 1 alternatively called kaoju xue Chinese 考據學 evidential scholarship and Qian Jia School Chinese 乾嘉學派 2 was a school and approach to study and research in the Qing dynasty of China from about 1600 to 1850 It was most prominent during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor and Jiaqing Emperor hence the alternate name Qian Jia School The approach corresponds to the methods of modern textual criticism and was sometimes associated with an empirical approach to scientific topics as well Contents 1 History and controversies 1 1 Influence in Japan 2 See also 3 Notes 4 BibliographyHistory and controversies EditSome of the most important first generation of Qing thinkers were Ming loyalists at least in their hearts including Gu Yanwu Huang Zongxi and Fang Yizhi Partly in reaction to the presumed laxity and excess of the late Ming they turned to Kaozheng or evidential learning which emphasized careful textual study and critical thinking 3 4 Rather than regarding kaozheng as a local phenomenon of Jiangnan and Beijing areas it has been proposed to view it as a general trend in development of Chinese scholarship in light of contribution of Cui Shu 1740 1816 5 Towards the end of the Qing and in the early 20th century reform scholars such Liang Qichao Hu Shih and Gu Jiegang saw in kaozheng a step towards development of empirical mode of scholarship and science in China Conversely Carsun Chang and Xu Fuguan criticized kaozheng as intellectually sterile and politically dangerous 6 While Yu Ying shih in the late 20th century has tried to demonstrate continuity between kaozheng and neo Confucianism in order to provide a non revolutionary basis for Chinese culture Benjamin Elman has argued that kaozheng constituted an empirical revolution that broke with the stance of neo Confucian combination of teleological considerations with scholarship 7 Influence in Japan Edit The methods of kaozheng were imported into Edo era Japan as kōshō or kōshōgaku 8 This approach combined textual criticism and empiricism in an effort to find ancient original meanings of texts The earliest use of kaozheng methods in Edo Japan was Keichu s critical edition of the Man yōshu 9 These methods were eventually used by the Kokugaku to argue that modern science was indigenous to Japan they also contributed to the Kokugaku critique of Buddhism 10 See also EditDai Zhen Changzhou School of Thought Han learning Kokugaku Textual criticismNotes Edit Quirin 36 n 9 Yao Xinzhong 2015 The Encyclopedia of Confucianism 2 volume set p 488 ISBN 9781317793496 kaozheng xue Chinese history Britannica com Retrieved 2016 06 13 Mote 1999 p 852 855 Quirin 37 8 Quirin 36 7 Quirin 37 8 Josephson 109 110 Josephson 110 Josephson 109 117 Bibliography EditJosephson Jason 2012 The Science of the Gods The Invention of Religion in Japan Chicago University of Chicago Press ISBN 9780226412351 Krebs Edward S 1998 Liu s prison essays Chapter 4 of Shifu Soul of Chinese Anarchism Rowan amp Littlefeld Publishers 48 50 at google books Kenji Shimada Pioneer of the Chinese Revolution Zhang Binglin and Confucianism Translated by Joshua A Fogel 58 60 at google books Mote Frederick W 1999 Imperial China 900 1800 Cambridge Massachusetts Harvard University Press ISBN 0 674 44515 5 Quirin Michael Scholarship Value Method and Hermeneutics in Kaozheng Some Reflections on Cui Shu 1740 1816 and the Confucian Classics History and Theory 35 4 34 53 Available at www academicroom com retrieved 18 5 2014 Spence Jonathan D The Search for Modern China 103 105 at Google Books Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kaozheng amp oldid 1104807001, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
