“Zi yi” (“The black robes”): two versions of one text

Abstract

The article analyze the Early Chinese text “Ziyi” (“The black robes”) and show the differences among two extant versions of this text, one the manuscript version of the Guodian (date the end of the Zhanguo period) and second received version in the canonical text of “Li ji” (“Records of rites”) (date the beginning of the Han dynasty). These differences will illustrate evolution of the Confucian’s study and Early Confucian’s philosophical thought.