劉知幾疑古 · 惑經思想與其時代精神

Abstract

In the Tang Dynasty, the study of Confucian classics was unified in thought and text by the “Five classics(Wujing Zhengyi)”, but after the middle period, scholars who put forward their own interpretation of classics began to appear. Liu Zhiji(劉知幾) can be cited as a scholar who analyzes the Chinese Classics from the perspective of history and puts forward his doubts and puzzles decisively. As a historian, he has written two works, “Doubting the ancient(疑古)” and “Perplexing the Confucian Classics(惑經)”. Because of the doubt of historical records, he chose to attach importance to events and despise language, and then criticized Confucius for not writing historical facts truthfully. Moreover, Confucius's attitude points out that there are personal feelings in writing about the Spring and Autumn Classics(春秋), and there are drawbacks of covering up mistakes. His accusation broke away from the blind worship of Confucius and regarded the Spring and Autumn Classics(春秋) as historical materials. From the point of view of breaking the blind obedience and sacred attitude towards Confucian classics, he played a pioneering role.