A Study on Guo Xiang’s Essentials of Analects(Lunyu tilüe 論語體略) - Focused on the Theory of Sages-

This study delves into how Guo Xiang’s theory of xingfen (性分) and the rule of sages achieve consistency, focusing on the concepts of ‘tiqing’ (體情), ‘yinxun’ (因循), and ‘yibuzhizhizhi’ (以不 治治之) found in the 9 fragmentary sentences of Guo Xiang’s Essentials of the Analects (Lunyu tilüe 論語體略). Firstly, ‘tiqing’ is introduced as a concept critiquing value judgments about things. It entails forgetting the feelings of ‘likes and dislikes’ that arise from cognitive discrimination and, through this, being able to empathize with other people’s emotional changes without prejudice. Next, ‘yinxun’ means ‘following nature,’ and although Guo Xiang inherits Daoist yinxun concept, he develops an original concept of ‘yinxun’ based on his own theory of xingfen. Lastly, ‘yibuzhizhizhi’ means ‘the rule of inaction.’ While this is a Daoist concept, it is also found in Confucianism. Guo Xiang offers a new interpretation of ‘inaction’ by affirming the artificial behavior of objects based on his ‘xingfen,’ interpreting ‘inaction’ as leaving it to the ‘self-action’ of things. In this regard, Guo Xiang’s rule of sage is to entrust the ‘self-action’ of things and to facilitate the active expression of the ‘xing 性’ of things. These concepts presented in Guo Xiang’s Essentials of the Analects provide a more reasoned understanding of the compatibility of Guo Xiang’s theory of xingfen and the rule of sages. In a world where all things are absorbed in their own xing, the necessity for sages is inevitably diminished. However, while Guo Xiang does not relinquish the idea of sage-ruling over all things, he develops his view of governance in a manner that reduces the need for sages and maximizes the role of things. In Guo Xiang’s ideological system, which emphasizes the ‘spontaneity’ of things, the notion of a creator as the basis of things is rejected. Instead, things exist and act solely according to their own ‘xing’. The foundation of all things is the self. Thus, Guo Xiang envisions an ideal world where ‘autonomy’ is established simply by establishing a self-sufficient way of existence for things.