Between the ways of governance:the evolution of Ren Qiyun's tendency in ritual studies:the interpretations of Royal Regulations and Monthly Ordinances in Annotations on the Book of Rites,Lectures on the Classics, and Exegesis on the Book of Rites
The advent of Ren Qiyun's Annotations on the Book of Rites,Lectures on the Classics,and Exegesis on the Book of Riteswas accompanied by the change of personal identity and the shift of the tendency in ritual studies. During the Kangxi and Qianlong reigns,Ren Qiyun transitioned from a local scholar to an imperial tutor and eventually to the chief compiler of ritual studies,gradually integrating into the center of the political and Taoist system of the Qing Dynasty. The three books not only highlight Ren Qiyun's evolving identity at each stage,but also reveal his shift from empirical research to philosophical interpretation in ritual studies,along with an increased awareness of practical governance and cultural identity. Examining the differences and similarities in the interpretations of Royal Regulations and Monthly Ordinancesacross the three books provides insights into the core spirit and developmental trajectory of Ren Qiyun's ritual studies.
Annotations on the Book of RitesLectures on the ClassicsExegesis on the Book of RitesRen Qiyun