Life, Thought and Image of Wang Zheng, a Confucian-Christian in Late Ming China

Abstract

This dissertation aims at the core question, which is that Wang Zheng, as a Confucian literati with a classical Chinese tradition and education, how did he interpret the Christian teachings and set up his thought system? In the part of Wang Zheng's life, the author mainly introduced his education, Christian Baptism and official career, which are based on some primary scources. Factually, through the analysis, his religious thought deeply influence his private life and the official career. The second part is about Wang Zheng's thought－Revering Heaven and Caring for Human Beings, which was integrated between Confucian teachings and Christian doctrines. This coherent system of thought has three parts, i.e. knowing the Lord of Heaven, revering the Lord of Heaven and serving the Lord of Heaven, which is mainly based on the texts of WTARJL, RHY, RJSB. In the third part of this research, the author analysed the image of Wang Zheng in the history, which includes three aspects, self-description, historical evaluation and modern image. His image of Confucian-Christian was gradually discovered. Therefore, we can think that Wang Zheng's integrated thought of Revering Heaven and Caring for Human Beings, which instructed his ethical practice of life. In the meantime, we also can find that the topic of his thought was deeply rooted in his historical image.