玄學의 시간적 범위에 대하여

Abstract

Although the term xianxue(玄學) has been used to refer to a philosophical movement during the Wei-Jin period, no agreement has been reached regarding the specific meaning of the term. Tang Yongtong(1893-1964) is the first scholar to have employed xianxue in referring to a specific philosophical trend in the history of Chinese philosophy. However, scholars continue to disagree on the scope and meaning of xianxue. This paper examines the periodization of xianxue. For this purpose, I first explore the meanings of xianxue, Qingtan(淸談), and nanxue(南學) and the relationship among them. In so doing, I also investigate the process of formation and evolution of sanxianxue(三玄學), the relationship between xianxue and lixue(禮學), as well as that of xianxue and Buddhism. This investigation concludes that xianxue was a philosophical movement that can be located in the period from the late Han to Tang and not the generally accepted Wei-Jin period.