Five Visions of Yang Zhu Before he Became a Philosopher

This paper traces the consecutive emergence of five important portrayals of Yang Zhu preceding his creation as philosopher in the Republic. In the late Zhou, he was seen as a debating rival and a defender of physical or personal integrity. From the Han onward, he became part of a rhetorical trope based on Mencius’ portrayal. In the Wei Jin he was a prominent figure in his own right. The fourth portrayal, from the Song onward, contained reflections on his thought in the shadow of Mozi and Confucian orthodoxy. In the late Qing, finally, Kang Youwei presented him as a minor political reformer responding to Confucius’ reform plans. These layers contributed in various ways to the nowadays almost exclusive presentation of Yang Zhu as a philosopher, a defender of social tolerance, autonomy, or individual freedom. Their rich variety has to often been sacrificed for a relatively homogeneous portrayal.

Publication year:2020

Accessibility:Open