Page 133 - 2022(1) International Confusion Studies

126 J. Yuan

they have studied The Book of Songs; if they are learned and intelligent, this is
because they have studied The Book of History. The same is true with the
edifying function of other classics. In ancient Chinese society, the interpreta-
tion of canonical texts such as “The Preface to The Book of Songs” (《毛诗序》
)
and The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons (《文心雕龙》)promptedthe
evolution of the concept “being mild and gentle, sincere and broadminded” into a
1
more systematic theory. At the same time, scholars over the ages have different
opinions on the concept. This article argues that this category, originating from
the Confucian classics, reveals the inner vitality of Chinese culture and aesthetics.
Thus, evaluation of this category should be explored in depth.

1 The History and Aesthetic Value of the Concept

of “Being Mild and Gentle, Sincere and
Broadminded”

The term “being mild and gentle, sincere and broadminded” is first found in the
chapter “Explanation of the Six Arts” of The Book of Rites. The chapter “Expla-
nation of the Six Arts” summarizes the six classics briefly. Zhuangzi (庄子 ca. 369
B.C.E.–ca. 286 B.C.E) was the first to coin the term of the six classics and briefly
summarize them. On this basis, this chapter goes further to emphasize the role of
the classics in the education of the people:
Confucius said, “When you come to a country, you can know about its edu-
cation. If the people there are mild and gentle, sincere and broadminded, this is
because they have studied The Book of Songs. If they understand the current affairs
as well as historical issues, this is because they have studied The Book of History.If

1 Regarding the time when “Explanation of the Six Arts” of The Book of Rites was written, Zhu
Ziqing (朱自清 1898–1948) argued in his On the Concept of Poetry Expressing Aspirations《诗言志
辨》that based on evidence in the chapter “Summary” of Huainanzi (《淮南子 · 泰族训》),
“Explanation of the Six Arts" was completed in the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.E.–25 C.E.). The
History of Chinese Philosophy (Qin and Han Dynasties Volume) [《中国哲学发展史》（秦汉卷）],
edited by Ren Jiyu (任继愈 1916–2009), also considers it to have been written in the Western Han
Dynasty, just like the “Great Learning,” (《大学》) “The Doctrine of the Mean” (《中庸》) and
other parts of The Book of Rites. The History of Chinese Literary Theory (《中国文学理论史》),
edited by Huang Baozhen (黄保真 1939–2015), Cai Zhongxiang (蔡钟翔 1898–2009) and Cheng
Fuwang (成复旺), and The Selected Literary Essays of the Qin, Western and Eastern Han Dynasties
(《先秦两汉文论选》), edited by Zhang Shaokang (张少康) and Lu Yonglin (卢永璘), also
consider it to be a work of the Western Han Dynasty. This paper agrees with these views and
considers it to be the crystallization of the intellectual and cultural concepts of the Western Han
Dynasty.