J. East China Norm. Univ. Philos. Soc. Sci ›› 2002, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (5): 118-122.doi: 10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5579.2002.05.017

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Seeking for a Consolation of Life--An Analysis of Wang Guowei's Historiographic Transition

Zeng-hua JIANG   

  • Received:2001-03-14 Online:2002-09-01 Published:2025-12-11

Abstract:

Wang Guowei, a great master of traditional Chinese philosophy, had been deeply influenced by both traditional values and Western culture. In his time China's society was in the course of transforming from traditional into modern. To seek the truth that was not only loveable but also believable, the tremendous change of China, the calling from the moral spirit of Confucianism, all this made Wang return to believe ancient Chinese classics. He made inquiries into textual researches on ancient classics and history. In his eyes, the culture of government by virtue was loveable as well as believable. In this way Wang found a cultural sense of identity through returning back to tradition, and obtained a subjective consolation of life. But objectively, such a sense of identity was not appropriate to the occasion. He failed to really solve the problem of life.

Key words: Wang Guowei, consolation of life, loveable, believable