Find Modern Turning From the Rising Trend of Giving Consideration to the Han and Song Compromise School of the Academic History in the Qing Dynasty

Abstract

As one of the important schools, the Han and Song compromise school was rising in the mid and late Qing Dynasty and it had lasted for hundreds of years. The reasons of the rise were very complex, but the remarks of Weng Fanggang (翁方綱) , Zhang Xuecheng (章學誠) and Xu Zongyan (許宗彥) of the Qianlong period undoubtedly enlightened the development of the school. Weng Fanggang considered that establishing a union of the Han school and the Song school was better for the both. Zhang Xuecheng thought that separating the Han school and the Song school would hurt the two. Xu Zongyan believed that the academic level of the Han school was lower and it should unite with the Song school to reach the way of sage (聖學). Although there were some differences in their opinions, they all wanted to correct the bias of the Han school and overcome shortcomings of the Song school. Their thoughts showed the changes of academic views from tradition to modernity in the Qing Dynasty. For us, studying this topic still has realistic significance.