The Book of Master Liu Taoist Scriptures 刘子
Paul PengThe Book of Master Liu
Also Known as New Theories of Liuzi
According to textual research by Yu Jiaxi, this book was written by Liu Zhou of the Northern Qi Dynasty and annotated by Yuan Xiaozheng of the Tang Dynasty. It has numerous versions. The Daozang (Daoist Canon) version has ten volumes and is included in the Taixuan (Supreme Mystery) section. The book is divided into fifty-five chapters, generally integrating Confucianism and the Huang-Lao School thoughts to discuss the ways of selecting virtuous and capable people, governing the state and cultivating one’s moral character.
The Book of Master Liu
Its chapter Nine Schools of Thought states: "Nowadays, virtuous people governing the world should prioritize etiquette and education; scholars who withdraw to lead a secluded life should focus on non-action. Then, both their careers and personal reputations can be fulfilled." This is the essential purport of the entire book. Yuan Xiaozheng’s annotations in the Tang Dynasty are quite shallow and crude, while Annotations on New Theories of Liuzi compiled by Yang Mingzhao, a modern scholar, is superior to the ancient annotations. Its ideological framework is closely related to the theoretical system of Taoism and echoes the philosophical propositions in the Laozi.
