Paradigm Shifts through Different Interpretations of the Classics in the Transitional Period from the Late Ming to the Early Qing

All agree that the late Ming to the early Qing was a fascinating transitional period. But why the sudden change from philosophy to philology? ¹ Was it due to reaction to external political pressure, or demands for the internal transformation of classical studies? ² Many questions have been asked, but few answered to our satisfaction. Here I do not pretend to provide answers for these questions. As the scope of my chapter is much more limited, I only want to pick up some clues to trace the formation of ideas in this period from a hermeneutic perspective in order to shed some light on these questions. ³