Xiong Shili
Encyclopedia
Xiong Shili was a modern Chinese philosopher whose major work A New Treatise on Consciousness-only (新唯識論, Xin Weishi Lun) is a Confucian critique of the Buddhist "consciousness-only" theory popularized in China by the Tang Dynasty
pilgrim Xuanzang
.
Born in Huanggang, Hubei
, Xiong was a participant in the Republican Revolution
that ended the Qing Dynasty
and ushered in China's first republic, left politics in 1917 in disgust over corruption and what he termed "latent feudalism" among the revolutionaries.
Offered a sinecure
as a school teacher
, Xiong stopped in Nanjing
to listen to lectures at the Buddhist China Institute for Inner Learning (支那內學院). (Buddhists refer to metaphysics
as 'inner learning' and science
as 'outer learning'). Xiong remained at the Institute as a student of Ouyang Jingwu, the Institute's learned lay teacher.
In the 1920s, the Chancellor of Peking University
, Cai Yuanpei
, sent Liang Shuming
(梁漱溟, 1893-1988)to Nanjing to ask Ouyang Jingwu to recommend one of his students to teach Buddhist Logic (因明學, Yinming Xue) and Yogacara philosophy (唯识论)in the Philosophy Department at Peking University. Ouyang Jingwu recommended Xiong and passed Liang Shuming a draft on which Xiong had been working entitled An Outline of Consciousness-only. Impressed with Xiong's work, Cai Yuanpei, on Liang's recommendation, invited Xiong to Peking University where Xiong, much to the chagrin of Liang Shumin, destroyed his draft and instead wrote and published in 1932 what is now considered his major work A New Treatise on Consciousness-only (新唯识论, xin weishi lun). In his "New Treatise," Xiong criticized the old Yogacara Masters, such as the brothers Vasubandhu and Asanga, as well as their successors, Dharmapala and Xuan Zang, for their theory of seeds in which seeds, stored in the eight or 'storehouse' consciousness (alayavijnana), become discrete causal agents that 'perfume' (bring into being) all mental and physical dharmas.
B. The 1911 Revolution
C. The Buddhist Scholar
D. Professor of Philosophy
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
pilgrim Xuanzang
Xuanzang
Xuanzang was a famous Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who described the interaction between China and India in the early Tang period...
.
Born in Huanggang, Hubei
Huanggang, Hubei
Huanggang City is a major municipality in eastern Hubei Province, China. It is situated to the north of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and is bounded in the north by the Dabie Shan mountain range....
, Xiong was a participant in the Republican Revolution
Xinhai Revolution
The Xinhai Revolution or Hsinhai Revolution, also known as Revolution of 1911 or the Chinese Revolution, was a revolution that overthrew China's last imperial dynasty, the Qing , and established the Republic of China...
that ended the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
and ushered in China's first republic, left politics in 1917 in disgust over corruption and what he termed "latent feudalism" among the revolutionaries.
Offered a sinecure
Sinecure
A sinecure means an office that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service...
as a school teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, Xiong stopped in Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
to listen to lectures at the Buddhist China Institute for Inner Learning (支那內學院). (Buddhists refer to metaphysics
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
as 'inner learning' and science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
as 'outer learning'). Xiong remained at the Institute as a student of Ouyang Jingwu, the Institute's learned lay teacher.
In the 1920s, the Chancellor of Peking University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
, Cai Yuanpei
Cai Yuanpei
Cai Yuanpei was a Chinese educator and the president of Peking University. He was known for his critical evaluation of the Chinese culture that led to the influential May Fourth Movement...
, sent Liang Shuming
Liang Shuming
Liang Shuming , October 18, 1893—June 23, 1988), born Liang Huanding , courtesy name Shouming , was a philosopher, teacher, and leader in the Rural Reconstruction Movement in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican eras of Chinese history.Liang was of Guilin, Guangxi origin, but born in Beijing...
(梁漱溟, 1893-1988)to Nanjing to ask Ouyang Jingwu to recommend one of his students to teach Buddhist Logic (因明學, Yinming Xue) and Yogacara philosophy (唯识论)in the Philosophy Department at Peking University. Ouyang Jingwu recommended Xiong and passed Liang Shuming a draft on which Xiong had been working entitled An Outline of Consciousness-only. Impressed with Xiong's work, Cai Yuanpei, on Liang's recommendation, invited Xiong to Peking University where Xiong, much to the chagrin of Liang Shumin, destroyed his draft and instead wrote and published in 1932 what is now considered his major work A New Treatise on Consciousness-only (新唯识论, xin weishi lun). In his "New Treatise," Xiong criticized the old Yogacara Masters, such as the brothers Vasubandhu and Asanga, as well as their successors, Dharmapala and Xuan Zang, for their theory of seeds in which seeds, stored in the eight or 'storehouse' consciousness (alayavijnana), become discrete causal agents that 'perfume' (bring into being) all mental and physical dharmas.
Major works
- A New Treatise on Consciousness-only (新唯識論)
- A Refutation of the Refutation of the New Treatise on Consciousness-only (破破新唯識論)
- Origins of Confucianism (源儒)
- Essay on Substance and Function (體用論)
- Essential Sayings of Shili (十力語要)
- First Continuation of the Essential Sayings of Shili (十力語要初續)
- Essentials for Reading the Classics (讀經示要)
- A Comprehensive Explanation of Buddhist Terms (佛家明相通釋)
- On Change (乾坤衍)
- Conservative Buddhist Clandestine Opposition to Xuan Zang During the Tang Dynasty (唐世佛學舊派反對玄奘之暗潮)
Outline
A. Childhood and Early EducationB. The 1911 Revolution
- He Zixin (何自新) and Wang Han (王漢)
- The Science Study Group (科學講習所)
- Wang Han’s Assassination Attempt on Tie Liang
- Society for the Daily Increase of Knowledge
- Xiong Shili on the 1911 Revolution
- Xiong Shili After the 1911 Revolution
C. The Buddhist Scholar
- The Institute for Inner Learning (支那內學院)
- Xiong’s Early Interest in Buddhism
- Xiong at the Institute for Inner Learning
D. Professor of Philosophy
- Peking University
- Liang Shuming (粱漱溟) and Lin Zaiping (林宰平)
- Ma Yifu (馬一浮)
- A Student’s View of Xiong
- The Research Institute of Chinese Philosophy
- Xiong’s Academic Career