• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.23
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• pp.349-392
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• 2008

Modern Neo-Confucianism was formed as a school by solving the modern problems in China through accepting western philosophies with Chinese basic philosophies since New Cultural Movement. Marxism, Liberalism, and Modern Neo-Confucianism are called three representatives of Chinese modern philosophies. Since the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, Modern Neo-Confucianists have tried to keep their philosophy and cultural conservatism in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Modern Neo-Confucianism which had been prohibited before 1978 was brought again to people's attention in the middle of 1980s by their active lectures and writings. Furthermore, the study on Modern Neo-Confucianism was supported by the Chinese government in 1987. China was trying to find the way to enhance Chinese tradition and to develop China to a modern society at the same time through the study on Modern Neo-Confucianism. The purpose of Modern Neo-Confucianism is to keep Chinese tradition which was broken off, to develop China to a modern society, to control the problems caused by capitalism socially, and ultimately to strengthen socialism in China in the political aspect. The study on Modern Neo-Confucianism in the 1980s focused on introducing, organizing, and understanding Modern Neo-Confucianism as its early stage. This study was led by Marxists with their methods and viewpoints. Even though the acceptance and understanding of Modern Neo-Confucianism was limited in a short period, the study on Modern Neo-Confucianism in the 1980s propagated Modern Neo-Confucianism. Modern Neo-Confucianism also played an important role to grow the argument about the critical succession of Chinese tradition and to reconsider the fact that modernization does not mean only westernization.

• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.23
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• pp.393-421
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• 2008

This thesis has an intention to reorganize the topic of Ontology that has not unnoticed, investigating the symbolic signs of Zhuxi. The symbols in Ontology visualize in an anthropomorphic form or a form of animals that we can usually find in the nature. The visible symbols have characteristics of the dynamic rather than the stillness. The symbols of human and a horse have developed as different interpretations depending on the relative importance. The movement of stream symbolize the Movement of Daoti that manifests thorough all things in the Dao and have a structure of 'Ti-Xiang-Yong'. The Substance of Metaphysics embodies an action thorough 'Metaphysics' or 'with Metaphysics'. Accordingly, 'a stream' symbolizes 'the Movement of Daoti' in that it manifests the form of Daoti makes body. A kite and a fish symbolize the form of a kite flies up into the sky and the shape of a fish plays in the pond. These not only represent an outlook on the world, but also symbolize the stage of the Movement of Daoti. 'Human', 'a stream', 'a kite' and 'a fish' include activeness, domination, dynamics, manifestation, visibility, naturalness.