92(18) 201212

101-120

General Article

Le Van Ngu's Chu Dich Cu Nguyen and

Interpretation of Confucianism

Chen-feng TSAI*

Ke ywords: Vietnamese Confucianism, Le Van Ngu, Le Quy Dun, Zhuxi,

Book of Changes

*
P rofessor, Department of Chinese Literature, National Taiwan University.

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92(18) 201212

cosmogony

Abstract
This paper discusses the interpretation of the Zhouyi () offered in the
exegetical work Chu Dich Cu Nguyen () by the late 19 th /early 20 th
century Vietnamese Confucian scholar Le Van Ngu (). Three issues are
dealt with here: (1) Is there a close connection between the development of
Vietnamese Confucianism after the 18 th century and Zhuzi's system of thought?
(2) What are the origins and the characteristic features of the cosmogony found in
the Chu Dich Cu Nguyen? (3) How does the cosmogony in this work set the
basis for Le's interpretation so the Analects, the Great Learning and the Doctrine
of the Mean shape his overall understanding of Confucianism? This paper finds
that: (1) the development of Confucianism in Vietnam after the 18 th century did
not, unlike in Korea and Japan, come under the strong influence of Zhuzi's
system of thought and sacrifice philosophical theorizing for a greater emphasis
on practicality. (2) Le's interpretation of Confucianism revolves around the idea
of "conforming man with Heaven"; as such, his moral philosophy is inseparable
from the cosmogony of the Chu Dich Cu Nguyen. Likewise, Le's cosmogony
attempts to combine Chinese and Western views to build a theoretical system
capable of explaining developments in contemporary optical and electrical
technology.

ii

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66

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92(18) 201212

113012004
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1726-17845
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10 517



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9 cosmogony

198 2005 62005 67-69 76



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12
13

14
15

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1986 1 1-3 4 67 5
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b.

c.

viii

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bc

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17 1 3
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1597-165921

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1988 3
20 1659-1733 5
542b
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qiair
air four
elements

Empedocles, 493-433BCE

Michel Ruggieri, 1543160723 Matteo Ricci,

1552-1610
24
25
qi
air26

23
Nicolas
Standaert Adrian Dudink
2002 1
24
25 Sabatino de Ursis, 1575-16201
Francisco Furtado, 1589-1653 1 Alfonso
Vagnone, 1566-1649
5
2010
1975
Nathalie Monnet
2009 2
26



qi air 16

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T hales, C.624-546BCE
Anaximenes, C.610-546BCE

Anaximenes, C.588-525BCE

Heraclitus, C.535457BCE
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29
1988 13-26

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30

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a.

30 Georg Simon Ohm, 1789-1854

Joseph Henry, 1797-1898
John Lies, 1834-1874
I'enobe Th'eophile Gramme
Alexander Graham Bell, 18471922 Thomas Alva Edison, 1847-1931

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b.

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1623-1688Giulio Aleni, 1582-164935

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Alexander Williamson, 1829-1890

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