Old Text school

The "Old Text school" refers to a movement within Confucianism during China's Han dynasty. This school claimed to use authentic classical texts written in an "old" script, predating the Qin unification. They offered an alternative worldview to the prevailing interpretations of Confucianism, focusing on a more rational and moralistic approach to the Classics.1

The Old Text school emerged as a reaction against the more metaphysical interpretations of Confucianism, such as those developed by Dong Zhongshu. Scholars like Gu Yanwu, in later dynasties, also critiqued the "useless book learning" of neo-Confucian philosophy, advocating for knowledge of practical use and a return to original classic texts. This movement contributed to the professionalization of Confucian scholarship, though it eventually became too specialized to remain a dominant intellectual force.12