A Study of Ancient Chinese Intellectual History from Recently Excavated Bamboo Manuscripts

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25884040
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Chinese philosophy/Indian philosophy/Buddhist studies
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: NAKAMURA Miki 大阪大学, 文学研究科, 助教 (50709532)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-08-30 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 出土文献 / 出土資料 / 中国哲学 / 中国思想史 / Bamboo slips / 竹簡 / 清華大学蔵戦国竹簡 / Zhangguo Period

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Several recently excavated bamboo manuscripts serve as primary sources for the pre-Qin Dynasty era in China, and contain many documents about Confucianism and the words and acts of ancient Chinese saints. This study chiefly analyzes the "Qinghua Bamboo Slips (清華簡)," which are closely related to thought in southern Chu（楚）, with an especial focus on the texts related to Confucianism that scholars had believed to be lost. Ultimately, I demonstrate that the Qinghua Bamboo Slips not only quote and interpret many Confucian scriptures but also contain thoughts and expressions that are unique among ancient literature.
This work also provides scope for further studies on the reception of Confucian classics in the pre-Qin Dynasty era.

Free Research Field

中国哲学・印度哲学・仏教学