An Analysis of Ju Xi's Theoretical Presumptions for Interpreting Mencius's Theories

Abstract

Contemporary western Hermeneutics once suggested that any understanding about traditional texts was meant to provide a kind of pre-understanding, in wishes that modern students could, through pre-understanding and the analysis of theoretical presumptions about the authors, enable contemporary readers to have more profound understanding about traditional documents. From this perspective, this article is attempted to inquire Ju Xi's theoretical presumptions for his interpretation of Mencius's texts. In the mean time, Ju Xi's study on Mencius is historically significant, which not only involved the debate between Ju Xi and Lu Jiu-yuan but also carried on the philosophical trend of "relating to Mencius and reflecting on the Sung-Ming Neo-Confucianism" in the Ming and Qing Dynasty. On the other hand, contemporary scholars also inherit such an orientation in research, observing Ju's theoretical presumptions about the relationships between such concepts as mind, principle and emotion, and then analyzing the presumed systematic framework. Here we would analyze Ju's theoretical presumptions for his interpretation of Mencius - such as differentiation between li and qi, structure in practice, emphasis on intellect and knowledge and nature as the origin of morality-to understand deeply the spirit of Ju Xi's interpretation of Mencius.