山片蟠桃における「無鬼」の論理(中)

概要

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In my previous paper, I discussed Banto's atheistic interpretation of Confucius' own teaching about guishen (spirits and gods). In this paper I discuss his atheistic interpretation of Zhu Xi's teaching about guishen. According to Zhu Xi (the most important neo-confucianist philosopher, 1130-1200), the universe is the result of qi's continually alternating phases of rest and motion. Qi at rest is yin, qi in motion is yang. Out of this qi all things arise, therefore guishen are also reduced to qi or yinyang. Ito Jinsai (1627-1705) and Ogyu Sorai (1666-1728) regarded this teaching as atheism. But Banto was indignant at it, because Zhu Xi says that if after death the qi composing the body don't disintegrate perfectly, guishen can survive for a long time and make evil curses. Banto thinks this theory is an incomplete atheism, and creates a more complete atheism. According to him, as soon as a body as an accumlation of qi begins to disintegrate, all mental functions disappear and after death there remain neither guishen nor curses. This is a complete theory of atheism from the viewpoint of qi-monism. But he doesn't take consideration of the nature of qi, therefore I cannot decide with certainty whether his atheism is materialistic or not. But it indicates strongly a sign of materialism.