The Hua-i (華夷) Concept of Yeh Shih (葉適) in the Southern Sung Period

Abstract

The Yung chia (永嘉) schoool of the Southern Sung, especially Yeh Shih, had a strong infiuence on the contemporary shih-ta-fu (士大夫). Whereas Chu-tzu's (朱子) practical studies were mainly concerned with the problems in local village communities such as the She-ts'ang (社倉), Hsieng-yueh (郷約) and relief measures, statecraft and political issues within the Southern Sung regime figured strongly in Yeh Shih's practical studies. Moreover, his writings were published from private publishers in the Lun-ts'e (論策) style of the K'o-chu (科挙), thus fulfilling the needs of civil servants and candidates for recruitment examinations both in content and form. Yeh Shih, who advocated Ching-chih Shih-kung (経制事功), discussed various subjects ranging from administration to foreign relations in his collected writings, Ching-shih-lun (経世論). His writings aimed at the Restorstion of the north. Subsequently, he has been known as one of the most famous advocates of confrontation with the Chin (金). However, his view contrasts with that of others', because he understands the Hua-i concept in a different way than the traditional interpretation. Yeh Shih criticized many other advocators of war, because he thought that their opinions were based on the Hua-i concept found in the Ch'un-ch'iu (春秋), and that they ignored the actual conditions of the time. His principle of foreign policy was embodied in the words i (義), ming (名) and ch'uan (権), which seem to indicate self-determination of each ethnic group of the time. This concept of self-determination grew up since the Western Impact in the late 19th century, and therefore, it shows that his thought was quite new to his contemporaries. Nevertheless, he held essentially the traditional kind of Hua-i concept. In order to bridge the gap between the traditional concept and the reality of the time, he positively evaluated certain historical events since the Ch'in (秦) and Han (漢) Dynasties, thus trying to rationalize his position. Despite his efforts, he could never overcome the contradiction of his position nor produce a coordinate description. He criticized Ch'un-ch'iu and Ch'eng hsueh scholars (程学者) who advocated war and his criticism of Tao-hsueh (道学) was also based on similar reasons. At any rate, Yeh Shih is considered quite unique in the history of the Southern Sung for adding realism to the traditional stance.