Ma Yifu's Concept of Traditional Chinese Learning and Its Characteristics

With the rising popularity of traditional Chinese learning,Ma Yifu's theory of arts (six classics) learning has been very much discussed and advocated. However,his concept of traditional Chinese learning was very special in his days and was not well received. Ma's idea and academic principle should be discussed with regard to his unique interpretations. This paper analyzes the characteristics of his traditional Chinese learning philosophy in three aspects. First,his theory did not imitate or borrow those in the West because he thought that Western culture had some major problems. Second,the traditional Chinese learning movement in earlier Republican years was based on university education. But he strongly opposed the modern university system and emphasizing assimilating Barbarians with Chinese civilization by establishing academies and teaching six classics. Third,in the past,Neo-Confucianists had focused on The Four Books instead of Confucian classics study. Therefore,the study of Confucian classics in Qing Dynasty was encouraged to oppose Neo-Confucianism. The scientific approach to dealing with national heritage in the Republican period was also thought to follow the Qing method of Confucian classics study,which was opposed to Neo-Confucianism. But Ma Yifu was a great Neo-Confucianist in interpreting Confucian classics. This was unique and unequaled at that time,and in the academic world.