Reciprocal Interaction between Guanxue and Catholicism in Shaanxi during the Ming-Qing Transition

Abstract

Guanxue, originating in Meixian County, Shaanxi, was a regional Neo-Confucian school founded by Zhang Zai and developed during the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, primarily active in the Guanzhong region. Reaching new heights in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Guanxue engaged in theoretical exploration while deeply integrating with the Cheng-Zhu and Lu-Wang schools, maintaining its tradition of practicing ritual teachings, synthesizing knowledge, and upholding moral integrity. With the introduction of Catholicism into Shaanxi, an inevitable collision and interaction occurred between Guanxue and Catholicism. This article focuses on Guanxue scholars such as Wang Zheng and Wen Xiangfeng as representative figures. By analyzing their religious doctrines and behaviors, it demonstrates the bidirectional interaction between Shaanxi Guanxue and Catholic religious thought during the late Ming and early Qing periods