國立臺灣大學哲學論評

Abstract /

What are Confucius` thoughts at his old age really like? This is a question which has been brought out for discussion ever since. In this paper the author has addressed himself to the relation between Chou-i and Confucius` thoughts in his later life in five chapters, that is1. Preface2. Development of Confucius` thoughts thru his whole life3. Discussion on the relation between Confucius and Chou-i4. Speculation on Confucius` thoughts on the doctrine of Heaven at his late age5. Conclusion. As the author has acquired a new understanding of the implication in chapters relative to Analect (5:12) and Hsu-Tuan Hsi-hsiang Shou-Kuo Wen-Yen` of Shih Chi Kung-Tze-Shih-Chia, the I-Chuan in silk recently unearthed and the results of academic research over the past decade have further provided him with room for even more profound thinking as to make him realize that Confucius had once reorganized, researched, addressed and written about Chou-I. In his entire life, Confucius learned Chou-I when young but delighted in it during his later days. His attitude toward Chou-I had changed from "No prognostication" to "introducing prognostication" to moral teaching. All of these have shown that Confucius` lifelong thoughts had undergone a substantial change. In a word, Confucius did develop the thoughts on the doctrine of Heaven as recorded in "Ten Wings". Futher more, I-Chuan of today`s version was not entirely a work of Confucius`, however, it did have some bearing on Confucius. For this reason, the author has refuted in the paper the arguments put forward in the past which completely denied the relation between Chou-i and Confucius and considered "Ten Wings" anything but a work full of Confucius` thoughts. The author believes that we cannot help focusing on the T`uan-Chuan with the aid of Wen-yen Chuan, Hs`i-tz`u Chuan when we discuss the Confucius` thoughts at his old age to understand Confucius` thoughts on the doctrine of Heaven, order of Heaven and human nature.