This paper mainly discusses Ruan Yuan’s unique viewpoint concerning Confucian classics ─ ─ "benevolence", "filial piety", "etiquette" ─ ─ tripartite three-dimensional cross-spectrum of statecraft. He penetrated from the angle of "lives". By the work of collating the Confucian classic, the formation of "filial piety" as the core of Confucian ideas came into being, and thus he practiced the statecraft philosophy of implement for use. Recently, when academia singled out many issues concerning Qian Jia period classics, they mostly employed textual research or a single viewpoint for the spindle of discussion. The enquiry of this topic is another dimension to explore the history of classics in Qianlong and Jiaqing period, trying to reflect the Chinese Confucian classics characteristics at different times. Viewing vertically, in addition to analyzing the formation causes of Ruan Yuan classics theory, I will also explore his position in the Confucian classics history of the Qing Dynasty, search for associations between the two. Viewing laterally, through exploring thread of thought contributing to formation of each classics viewpoint, we can understand his impact on the implementation of statecraft concept.
Among numerous theme treatises written by Ruan Yuan, benevolence theory of “affection and respect” is the most valuable for sociological point of view in the late Qing Dynasty, and theoretical basis of “benevolence theory” came from textual research on literal meaning of words of <lives ancient teaching>. He started with textual research on literal meaning of words, defined origin of "temperament" and "life", and later proposed a concept of "checking temperament", then from "checking temperament" developed thought of "revering virtue", and by "revering virtue" proceeded to the next step to give full play to spirit of benevolence. Therefore, discussing this issue, the paper first from the point of view of "making an appraisal of personages and commenting on affairs of human life" illustrates the background of Ruan Yuan’s formation of thought. Secondly, it combs epoch relationships between benevolence theory and cultivation of moral character, induces and analyzes the theory behind practice of social ethical order, finds that "benevolence spirit" implementation and "filial piety" is most closely related. Then from composition process of thinking about social ethic order, sketched out ideological significance of "checking temperament by etiquette", master moral practice principles between checking temperament and revering virtue. Finally, it studies statecraft significance behind Ruan Yuan’s analysis of the Confucian moral principles of classics, history biography, the study of ancient system and other feats.
Through the collation, induction, analysis of data, this article found by way of the spirit to practice righteousness and embody benevolence Ruan Yuan emphasized inevitable relationship between "benevolence" and "filial piety". He made use of "filial piety" to link benevolence and etiquette, established inherent principles for social moral in practice, and then further did textual research on ritual implement, ritual system and other material objects, in order to find a theoretical basis for the practice of the principle. The idea that "implements store the ritual" is particularly stated. We will be able to explore statecraft philosophy of a saint through the development of the artifacts. This is the combination of scholarship and feats of Ruan Yuan’s lifetime.