Abstract:The Yangzhou School has always been regarded as an important school of Confucianism in Qing dynasty with abundant research results. However, the scholarly community has not noticed that the Qing history of The Collected Biographies of Confucian Scholars (Ru-lin-Zhuan), reveals the complicated formation process of Yangzhou scholars' records, which is of great value for understanding the history of this school. Based on the relevant archives of The Collected Biographies of Confucian Scholars from the Palace Museum in Taipei, this paper reveals the records of Yangzhou scholars in the first and fourth drafts of The Collected Biographies of Confucian Scholars from the compilation level. In the first draft, Ruan Yuan recorded the group of Yangzhou scholars represented by Ren Dachun, but the “Biography of Ren Dachun” was later deleted. During the reign of Emperor Guangxu, there were eight Yangzhou scholars officially recorded in the fourth draft of The Collected Biographies of Confucian Scholars. These biographies were edited and revised on the basis of the biographies of The Scholars Liu Baonan, Liu Wenqi, Zhu Shiduan, Wang Niansun, Wangxi, Xun Jiao, Ling Shu, Jiang Fan (Jiangsu Consulting and Interview Book), the eponymous work submitted by Yangzhou government. The compiler of the national historical museum focused on rewriting and honoring the research achievememts of the Yangzhou scholars in the study of scriptures such as Yijing, Spring and Autumn Annals and the Commentary of Zuo (Qiuming), Book of Rites, Analects of Confucius and Analects of Mencius, highlighting their geographic connections and family characteristics. Although the name of “Yangzhou School” was not adopted in the fourth draft of The Collected Biographies of Confucian Scholars, such important factors as the research style and geographic features of Yangzhou scholars have been recorded, which provide material basis for the establishment of Yangzhou School in the official history.
戚学民. 论清史《儒林传》扬州学人记载的形成[J]. 华中师范大学学报(人文社会科学版), 2024, 63(1): 121-135.
Qi Xuemin. On the Formation of Yangzhou Scholars' Records in the Qing History of The Collected Biographies of Confucian Scholars. journal1, 2024, 63(1): 121-135.