Shen Dao
Encyclopedia
Shen Dao was an itinerant Chinese
philosopher
from Zhao, who was a scholar at the Jixia Academy in Qi
. He is usually referred to as Shenzi 慎子.
and Zhuang Zi. A critical reconstruction of the lost book of Shenzi was made by Paul Thompson
, and published in 1979 as The Shen Tzu Fragments.
In 2007, the Shanghai Museum
published a collection of texts written on bamboo slips from the State of Chu
dating to the Warring States Period
, including six bamboo slips with sayings of Shenzi. These are the only known examples of the text of Shenzi that are contemporaneous with its composition.
The most noteworthy aspect of Shen Dao's philosophy is the fact that it was a precursor of both Taoist
and Legalist thought. While these two schools may seem quite opposed to each other in some regards, they both share a view of nature as a fundamentally amoral force, and by extension, reality as an arena without set moral imperative – a stance that differentiates both schools from Confucianism
.
In Confucianism, power is legitimized through superior moral character and wisdom. According to Shen Dao, there is no natural basis for moral judgment and authority arises and is sustained due to the nature of actual circumstances, rather than in accordance with human or linguistically formulated moral values. We should abandon such judgments and simply flow on the natural course of the Great Way (Great Tao). Through this idea, it is possible to see a bridge between the mystical simplicity of Taoism and the cynical realism of Legalism.
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
philosopher
Chinese philosophy
Chinese philosophy is philosophy written in the Chinese tradition of thought. The majority of traditional Chinese philosophy originates in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States era, during a period known as the "Hundred Schools of Thought", which was characterized by significant intellectual and...
from Zhao, who was a scholar at the Jixia Academy in Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
. He is usually referred to as Shenzi 慎子.
Overview
Shen Dao's own original 42 essays have been lost, and only 7 are still extant, and he is known largely through short references and the writings of others, notably Han FeiHan Fei
Han Fei was a Chinese philosopher who, along with Li Si, Gongsun Yang, Shen Dao and Shen Buhai, developed the doctrine of the School of Law or Legalism...
and Zhuang Zi. A critical reconstruction of the lost book of Shenzi was made by Paul Thompson
Paul Thompson (sinologist)
Paul Mulligan Thompson was a British sinologist and pioneer in the field of Chinese computer applications.-Biography:...
, and published in 1979 as The Shen Tzu Fragments.
In 2007, the Shanghai Museum
Shanghai Museum
The Shanghai Museum is a museum of ancient Chinese art, situated on the People's Square in the Huangpu District of Shanghai, People's Republic of China.-History:...
published a collection of texts written on bamboo slips from the State of Chu
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
dating to the Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
, including six bamboo slips with sayings of Shenzi. These are the only known examples of the text of Shenzi that are contemporaneous with its composition.
The most noteworthy aspect of Shen Dao's philosophy is the fact that it was a precursor of both Taoist
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
and Legalist thought. While these two schools may seem quite opposed to each other in some regards, they both share a view of nature as a fundamentally amoral force, and by extension, reality as an arena without set moral imperative – a stance that differentiates both schools from Confucianism
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
.
In Confucianism, power is legitimized through superior moral character and wisdom. According to Shen Dao, there is no natural basis for moral judgment and authority arises and is sustained due to the nature of actual circumstances, rather than in accordance with human or linguistically formulated moral values. We should abandon such judgments and simply flow on the natural course of the Great Way (Great Tao). Through this idea, it is possible to see a bridge between the mystical simplicity of Taoism and the cynical realism of Legalism.
External links
- Hong Kong University Philosophy Department, Shen Dao
- Surviving text of the Shenzi