Abstract

This dissertation will deal with the concept of T'ien as it appeared in ancient Chinese texts which covered a span of time from 1324 B.C. to the early Western Han . Though this is indeed a long period, the number of texts available for this study is quite limited. A general survey shows that the concept of T'ien for ancient Chinese has a fivefold meaning: it is used to denote a physical T'ien, a ruling T'ien, a fatalistic T'ien, a naturalistic T'ien, and an ethical T'ien . Further questions such as how this concept evolved into these meanings, what the origin of this concept was, and what the relation was between man and T'ien in its different meanings, will help bring us to the understanding of the Chinese attitude toward the transcendent and hence establish the original qualities of Chinese religious thought. The discussion of Confucianism in this connection is more than a case study, because this school reflected the evolution of the concept of T'ien in its own development more directly and adequately than other schools in ancient China. ;This thesis will contain three parts. To begin with, we have an introduction which will tackle the significance of Shang religion, the origin of the concept of Ti, the role and function of Ti, and the emergence of the concept of T'ien. The first part will deal with the concept of T'ien as expressed in the Book of History and the Book of Odes which represented the ideas of the Chou people. It is divided into three chapters: the convergent meaning of T'ien and Ti, the idea of the "mandate of T'ien", and the decline of the concept of T'ien. ;The second part will deal with the concept of T'ien as found in Confucianism. As a transmitter of cultural ideals from li to jen, Confucius showed his sincere respect for T'ien which remained for him a responsive over-all ruler. Following Confucius, Mencius elaborated a theory which affirms jen as the universal nature of man and traced its ultimate source to T'ien. ;The third part will discuss the concept of T'ien in Taoism as expressed in the Lao-tzu and the Chuang-tzu. Lao-tzu introduced a new concept of Tao and substituted it for T'ien which is left with the meaning of Nature. Chuang-tzu, with the perspective of Tao, reformulated the concept of T'ien. To conclude this thesis, the problem of human nature and its relation with T'ien in all these philosophies will be discussed and evaluated. The ideal of "T'ien and man being one," in the final analysis, was shared by both Confucianism and Taoism