The Image of Fuyue in Tsinghua Bamboo Slips and Ancient Chinese Shangshu
The traditional portrayal of Fu Yue(傅说)as a sage and"master of the King"is largely shaped by the three pieces of the Kong edition of The Appointment of Yue.By combining textual analysis of the Tsinghua Bamboo Slips version of The Appointment of Fu Yue with Kong's edition,it becomes evident that Kong's version was not forged by the people in the Wei and Jin dynasties,but instead dates back to the early Warring States period.The first and middle sections of The Appointment of Fu Yue,newly discovered in the Tsinghua Bamboo Slips,can be dated to the early Spring and Autumn period.In these parts,Fu Yue is depicted as a semi-divine messenger of the Supreme Deity.The final part of the document,dating to the middle and late Western Zhou period,presents Fu Yue as a humble servant within an absolute monarchy,a portrayal that is closest to his original image.The figure of Fu Yue as"the teacher of kings"represents a historical ideal deeply rooted in Confucian thought during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods,reflecting the ambitions of Confucian scholars who,as part of the gentry class,sought to influence governance.This image of Fu Yue has exerted a profound impact on later generations.
Tsinghua Bamboo SlipsAncient Chinese ShangshuThe Appointment of YueThe Appointment of Fu YueFu Yue(傅说)
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