Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

"Meaning Grasped Imageries Forgotten" and "The Unity of Form and Function" —A Study on the Transformation of Wang Bi's View on Literature

Shiqiao LiShanghai Normal University*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

Confucian classics studies in the Han Dynasty took phraseology and exegesis as its core, regarded classics as closed carriers of sages' words, and followed the principle of "transmitting rather than innovating" in annotating classics. Nevertheless, excessive elaboration and the prevalence of divination and apocrypha pushed Confucian classics studies into a crisis. As the founder of Wei-Jin Xuanxue, Wang Bi discarded the old paradigm and established ontological hermeneutics centered on "Grasping the Meaning and Forgetting the Images" and "Upholding the Root and Governing the Branches", which brought a fundamental breakthrough to the view of literature in Han Dynasty Confucian classics studies. His transformation of literary views manifested in three aspects. First, he shifted the focus from phraseology and exegesis to the interpretation of philosophical principles, advocating conciseness and lucidity. This turned classics from authoritative texts into carriers for expressing thoughts. Second, he reconstructed the relationship between Confucianism and Taoism through the distinction between "the internal" and "the external". He defined the Taoist concept of "Non-being" as the internal essence, and Confucian rituals, music and ethical norms as the external manifestations. He realized the fusion of Confucianism and Taoism via the unity of substance and function. On the one hand, he criticized the hypocrisy of ethical norms in the late Han Dynasty; on the other hand, he put forward a philosophical solution to resolve the tension between spontaneity and ethical norms. Third, viewed from a comparative perspective, Wang Bi stood in contrast with He Yan and Guo Xiang. His view on literature exerted a profound influence on the tradition of classic interpretation in later generations. In the Song Dynasty, scholars held both admiration and criticism towards his theories, which itself proves that his academic thoughts could never be ignored. Replacing phraseology and exegesis with ontological hermeneutics, Wang Bi transformed classic interpretation from a technical task into a creative activity, and opened up new possibilities for China's tradition of classic interpretation.

Keywords: Wang Bi; view on literature; Grasping the Meaning and Forgetting the Images; fusion of Confucianism and Taoism; ontological hermeneutics
Published: June 23, 2026
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2026.NS34802
Volume: CHR Vol.109
pp. 121-131
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