Rhetoric and the Perception of the Sacred in Confucian Classics: Insights from Premodern East Asian Scholars

This article explores the Confucian Classics as foundational texts of rhetorical theory and literary practice (wen ben yu jing 文本于經) in East Asia, arguing that their scriptural authority derives not only from their moral or philosophical content but also from their exemplary literary form. It addresses a scholarly gap concerning the rhetorical dimensions of these texts, especially as interpreted by premodern intellectuals across China, Korea, and Japan. Drawing on case studies of six influential scholars—Liu Xie and Han Yu from Liang and Tang China, Jeong Dojeon and Seong Hyeon from Joseon Korea, and Fujiwara Seika and Ogyū Sorai from Edō Japan—this study examines how each conceptualized and applied rhetorical principles rooted in the Confucian canon. Methodologically, it combines historical, philological, and comparative analysis of primary sources to trace both shared ideals and divergent approaches in their engagement with the Classics. Findings reveal that while these thinkers uniformly upheld the sacred literary status of the Confucian texts, they varied in rhetorical application, corpus selection, and the social and ethical aims of writing. This study concludes that these transnational rhetorical practices constitute a distinct intellectual trend within the Sinographic Cosmopolis, challenging disciplinary boundaries and reaffirming the central role of literary form in the articulation and transmission of Confucian thought.