166 Muhammad and His Dao
Muslim strategies of self-inclusion is in this instance more explicit
as well. Standaert identifies Yang’s interest in the “universality of
mind and li” (a major theme in Yang’s writings) as based on the
famous passage by Lu Jiuyuan 陸九淵 ( 1139 – 92 ): “Sages appeared
tens of thousands of generations ago. They shared this mind; they
shared this principle (li). Sages will appear tens of thousands of
generations to come. They will share this mind; they will share
this principle. In the Southern or Northern Seas, in the Western or
Eastern Seas, sages appear. They share this mind; they share this
principle” 東南西北海有聖人出焉此心同也同此理也.^5 Standaert
explains Yang Tingyun’s interpretation and use of this text to
bring Christian thought into the mainstream of Chinese philoso-
phical knowledge:
The sages everywhere within the four seas have the same mind and the
same principle. Their essence is situated in the reverence and service of
Heaven. From the Northern to the Southern Seas, from the Eastern to
the Western Seas, there is no difference as far as this principle is con-
cerned. Regardless as to whether one is a Confucian or Mohist, a Bud-
dhist or Taoist, intelligent or dull, sage or unfilial, everyone has to revere
the One. That is also why he follows the Westerners without acting con-
trary to the Way of Yao, Shun, Duke of Zhou and Confucius. The Way
of the foreigners is indeed the same as the Way of the Ancient Chinese
Saints and Sages.^6
It is not surprising that this seemingly most inclusive of Confu-
cian passages might be deployed by non-Confucians seeking to
demonstrate the similarity and harmoniousness of their thought
with Confucian tradition. Indeed, the same passage was used by
Muslim thinkers for the same ends. Moreover, the possibility of
direct intellectual contact between Muslim scholars and Christian
missionaries or their texts should not be ruled out. Liu Zhi, as we
have seen, listed “European” books as part of his reading. Many
different Chinese Muslim scholars of the late seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries cited Lu Jiuyuan in their writings.^7
—————
5. Cited in Standaert, Yang Tingyun, p. 201.
6. Ibid.
7. This passage by Lu Jiuyuan also appears in a slightly different form: “Sages
appear in the Eastern Seas, they have the same mind, the same principle; sages ap-
pear in the Western Seas, they have the same mind, the same principle” 東海有聖