Fenshu 焚書

Fenshu 焚書 "A book [that some would like] to burn", also called Lishi Fenshu 李氏焚書 "Master Li's burning book", is a collection of philosophical treatises written during the late Ming period 明 (1368-1644) by the philosopher Li Zhi 李贄 (1527-1602). He have his 6-juan-long book this title because Li Zhi critically attacked contemporary Neo-Confucian scholars and expected they would organise for the prohibition of his writing. It was first printed in 1590 and then again in 1600. It was, as foreseen, prohibited in 1602 and again in 1625. The ban was only lifted during the Qianlong reign-period 清乾 (1735-1795).

The Fenshu is a collection of poetry and prose writings that reflect his philosophical view of society and history. It includes Li Zhi's most essential critique of Neo-Confucianism as it was thought and practised by contemporary philosophers. The book is introduced by a foreword written by Li himself and a preface by Jiao Hong 焦竑 (1540-1620). It also includes Yuan Zhongdao's 袁中道 (1570-1626) biography of Li Zhi, Li Wenling zhuan 李溫陵傳.

In his worldview, Li Zhi was influenced by the Neo-Confucian philosopher Wang Shouren 王守仁 (Wang Yangming 王陽明, 1472-1529) and by Buddhism. The human body was, he thought, part of the world and in all its parts identical to the whole universe and each single fragment of it. This was best expressed by the purity of the human heart that corresponded to the untainted pureness of nature. Yet Li Zhi did not believe in the original unity of all objects in the universe, which was the proposition of most Neo-Confucians. Li argued that all objects on earth were created out of the dual "energy/spirit" (qi 氣) of Yin and Yang, as can be observed in the existence of male and female. Li Zhi refused the Neo-Confucian and Daoist concept of the unified Great Extreme (taiji 太極) from which everything came into being. He, therefore, does not cling to the concept of a good Heavenly order (li 理) that was given to all things when they were produced or humans when they were born.

Li Zhi argued that all men had by birth the "heart of a small child" (tong xin 童心), genuine and pristine, and devoid of any falseness. Only when growing up, all that one heard and saw penetrated into the mind and corrupted is original pureness. All speech, activities and thoughts would henceforth be influenced by the improper (jia 假) purposes that had crept into the heart.

Li especially cautioned against reading too many books which would implant fallacious thoughts into the mind, especially those of the Confucians and Neo-Confucians.

Li Zhi criticised the Confucians, notably Mengzi 孟子 (385-304 or 372-289 BCE), for his political and educational activism. In a very Daoist manner, Li Zhi asserted that the best form of government was non-action (wuwei 無爲), the best form of reigning was silence (wusheng 無聲), and the best form of education was quietness (wuyan 無言). The people suffered because politicians and the bureaucracy too much interfered into the lives of the ordinary people and exploited and oppressed them with the argument of acting benevolently (ren 仁). Instead, everyone had to rely on himself and act according to his/her own needs and beliefs, beyond the limits and restrictions imposed by the Confucian order of society. Li Zhi, therefore, also suggested that men and women were of equal rights and to be regarded as of the exact nature and capability. The Confucian scholars, he said, did precisely the opposite of what they requested from others, namely working and learning for themselves and to reap profits (li 利) for themselves (zisi 自私) and their descendants and not for any others. The words and behaviour of the Confucians were not in congruence with each other, and their stance was nothing but sanctimony. Li Zhi tried to free his contemporaries from the fetters of the Confucianism, which dominated society, education, professional careers, and politics.

The Fenshu was published by the Zhonghua Shuju Press 中華書局 in 1961 as a facsimile of the edition in the late Qing-period 清 (1644-1911) series Guocui congshu 國粹叢書 and then again in 1975, together with his book Xu fenshu 續焚書.

The reader might consult the studies by Phillip Grimberg. 2014. Dem Feuer geweiht: Das Lishi Fenshu des Li Zhi (1527-1602). Marburg: Tectum; and Rivi Handler-Spitz, Pauline C. Lee, and Haun Saussy. 2016. A book to Burn and a Book to Keep (Hidden [i.e. Cangshu]): Selected writings of Li Zhi. New York: Columbia University Press.