The Thought of Yang Zhu in the History of Laozi’s Thought: Along with a Discussion of the Authenticity of the Liezi

Abstract

Liu and Li argue that Yang Zhu and Liezi were important historical figures in the pre-Qin Daoist lineage and that the “Yang Zhu” chapter in the Liezi adequately represents their thought. They further trace the philosophical evolution of Yang Zhu appraisals by such scholars as Zhang Zhan in the Eastern Jin era, Lu Zhongxuan and Li Xisheng in the Tang, Chen Jingyuan, Zhu Xi, and Lin Xiyi in the Song, Wu Cheng in the Yuan, and Zhu Dezhi in the Ming. All these scholars tend to appreciate Yang Zhu’s thought or, at least, take it seriously as coherent philosophy. This paper represents the currently dominant approach to Yang Zhu as a valuable philosopher.

Notes

1 This paper was funded by China’s National Social Sciences Foundation as part of the project “A General History of Chinese Laozi’s Thought” (project number 14ZDB004).

2 Xiong Tieji, Ma Lianghuai, and Liu Shaojun, Zhongguo Laoxue shi [History of China's Laozi's thought] (Fuzhou: Fujian Renmin chubanshe, 1995), 101.

3 In this event, the Jin 晉 dynasty (​266–420) was overcome by northern non-Chinese tribes to which they lost their capital of Luoyang and northern regions of the empire. The library in Shanyang, northeast of Luoyang, seems to have been relocated southward, although with only partial success.—Trans.

4 Yang Bojun, Liezi jishi [The Liezi with collected explications] (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1979), 234.

5 Ibid, 235.

6 Feng Youlan, Zhongguo zhexue jianshi [A short history of Chinese philosophy] (Beijing: Beijing daxue chubanshe, 2013), 57.

7 Yang Bojun, Mengzi yizhu [The translated and annotated Mencius] (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 2008), 313.

8 Yang, Mengzi yizhu, 155.

9 Yang, Liezi jishi, 230.

10 Zhang Zhan, Liezi zhu [Commentary on the Liezi] (Shanghai: Shijie shuju, 1935), 77.

11 Ibid, 79.

12 Ibid, 81.

13 Ibid.

14 Ibid, 85.

15 Ibid, 79.

16 Xiong Tieji and Chen Hongxing, eds., Laozi jicheng [Collected versions of the Laozi] vol. 2 (Beijing: Zongjiao wenhua chubanshe, 2011) , 6.

17 Ibid, vol. 1, 584.

18 Lu Chongxuan, Liezi zhu [Commentary on the Liezi] (Nanjing: Suzhou guji chubanshe, 1988), 157.

19 Ibid, 160.

20 Ibid162.

21 Xiong and Chen, Laozi jicheng vol. 1, 235.

22 Ibid, vol. 4, 43.

23 Ibid, vol. 2, 620. (Other than the first sentence, Chen Jingyuan here quotes directly from the opening and closing passages of the “Yang Zhu” chapter of the Liezi.—Trans.)

24 Ibid, vol. 5, 583.

25 Li Jingde, ed., Zhuzi yulei [Classified dialogues of Master Zhu] (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1994), vol. 125, 2987.

26 Ibid, 2991.

27 Ibid, 2988.

28 Ibid, 2988.

29 Ibid, vol. 126, 3009.

30 Ibid, 3007.

31 Ibid, 3038.

32 Ibid, 3011.

33 Lin Xiyi, Chongxu zhide zhen jing kouyi [Meaning of the words of the perfected classic of emptiness and ultimate virtue], book 14 of Dao zang (Wenwu chubanshe, Shanghai shudian, and Tianjin guji chubanshe, 1988), 793.

34 Xiong and Chen, Laozi jicheng, vol. 5, 613.

35 [Ming] Zhu Dezhi, “Yang Zhu,” Liezi tongyi [Liezi with general explications], chap. 7.

36 Ibid.

37 Ibid.

38 Ibid.

39 Guo Moruo, Shi pipan shu [Book of ten critiques] (Beijing: Dongfang chubanshe 1996), 162.

40 Xiong Tieji, Ma Lianghuai, and Liu Shaojun, Zhongguo Laoxue shi [History of Chinese Laozi’s Thought], 101.