A Study on the Development of Confucianism in Chu-chien During Ching Dynasty

• Main Authors: Huai Wen Chang, 張懷文
• Other Authors: Hou Tsung Chien
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/82065171406071337345

碩士 === 臺北市立教育大學 === 社會科學教育學系碩士班 === 96 === At the beginning of Ching Dynasty, Hsinchu was a primitive, uncivilized place. However, the development of Confucianism here was not therefore restrained; on the contrary, it even flourished after the period of Emperor Chienlung. There are several reasons for the thriving development of Confucianism in Hsinchu if we make a thorough inquiry. In terms of environmental background, the cultivation of lands in Hsinchu by immigrants helped this place get rid of its original adverse circumstances. There are also other reasons such as the fact that the force of local people helped materialize the literature and education in Hsinchu, and that the officials of noble aspirations realized the administration and construction of this place. The literature and educational development of Hsinchu started at Mingchih Academy, which also played a decisive role in the course of development of Confucianism in Hsinchu in the Ching Dynasty and helped greatly the cultivation of talents, the promotion of climate of literature, and the instruction of Confucianism at the same place. The construction of Confucian temple, which was the tangible symbol of Confucianism and was built in Chiaching year 22 (1817), represented that the climate of literature and education was prevailing and promoted in Hsinchu. In terms of imperial examination, the learned people in Hsinchu who aspired to take the national exam benefited from the exam in Confucianism held by the Juhsueh Examination Institution of Tanshui regional government and also by the increase in the number of admission. The development of Confucianism, therefore, was firmly and solidly rooted in Hsinchu. The number of people from Hsinchu who were granted an official rank through the imperial examination reflected how flourishing the development of Confucianism in Hsinchu: the number increased noticeably from Chiaching period and reached a peak during the Taokuang period. From Chiaching to Tungchih period, there were one Jinshih and 12 Jurens. Many scholars and gentlemen came and went to the two great gardens in Hsinchu, Chienyuan and Peikuoyuan, to recite poetry, so a climate of team composition of poetry therefore developed. In the Taokuang period, poetry societies of distinct feature appeared. For example, some were to recite poetry in the topic of wind and moon, but others were for the preparation of imperial examination in a way that members learned different writing and poetry styles from each other. This shows that literature in Hsinchu was highly popular. The development of Confucianism had some, profound influence on Hsinchu. The society of Hsinchu became more civilized. The increase in the number of admission from Hsinchu to the government through the imperial examination transformed the same place from a barbarous immigrant society into a civilized one.