doctrine of names
Quick Summary
The "doctrine of names" (mingjiao) in Chinese philosophy, particularly during the 3rd century CE, was a blend of Confucian and Legalist ideas. It emphasized the importance of social duties, ritual, and law, with "names" referring to the various social roles an individual could hold, such as father, ruler, or subject. This doctrine emerged as Confucianism's prestige waned following the empire's disintegration, leading scholars to explore other schools of thought. While mingjiao focused on practical governance and social order, another trend, Xuanxue (Dark Learning), delved into metaphysical problems, seeking an underlying principle behind the changing world.1
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