The question of the origin of badness is a core problematic in New Confucian philosopher Xiong Shili＇s 熊十力 （1885-1968） Ming Xin Pian 明心篇 （Explaining the Mind; 1959）, a work representative of his thought to...The question of the origin of badness is a core problematic in New Confucian philosopher Xiong Shili＇s 熊十力 （1885-1968） Ming Xin Pian 明心篇 （Explaining the Mind; 1959）, a work representative of his thought towards the end of his life. In this essay, I examine how Xiong uses the concepts of the nature （xing 性） and the mind （xin 心） to explain the origin of moral badness. Xiong asserts that the Buddhists never concerned themselves with the problem of the origin of ignorance and delusion, afflictions that in turn lead to suffering and wrongdoing. Xiong sets out to redress what he claims the Buddhists had failed to do. I argue that the conceptual structure of both Xiong Shili＇s and Zhu Xi＇s （1130-1200） theoretical approaches to this problem are isomorphic. The isomorphism is significant because it suggests that Xiong consciously drew on Zhu Xi and/or the Buddhist models that Zhu in turn drew on. I provide evidence to show that even as late as 1959, and despite his increasingly entrenched criticisms of Buddhism, Xiong continued to draw on key concepts and models drawn from Buddhist philosophy of mind.展开更多
As the concluding part of a series of essays on theories of humanity in the Zhuangzi, this essay aims at describing the theme of qing＇t （emotion） as a dual-directional attitude towards qing as a partner to xing ＇ ...As the concluding part of a series of essays on theories of humanity in the Zhuangzi, this essay aims at describing the theme of qing＇t （emotion） as a dual-directional attitude towards qing as a partner to xing ＇ （nature） and the influence of this domain of thought on later generations and their continued discussion of it. Faced with a forcible divorce of qing and xing at the hand of Han Dynasty Ruists, which would lock perceptions into a rigid dualist framework, the Wei and Jin period saw authors such as Wang Bi and Ji Kang return to a more faithful rendering of the theme of qing in the classics, the Laozi and Zhuangzi, seeing it become an ever more explicit philosophical topic and beginning a lengthy period of discussion of the theme of qing. In the Northern Song period, representative thinkers Zhang Zai and Wang Anshi The Northern Song tradition constitute a continuance of Pre-Qin Daoist philosophical ideas, providing a logical reinterpretation of the indivisibility of qing and xing from a syncretist approach to the Daoist and Ruist traditions, in a way that drastically differs from the Southern Song preference for xing at the cost of qing, as represented by thinkers such as the Brothers Cheng and Zhu Xi. At the bottom of it, this continued tradition draws from themes that appear in the Zhuangzi, a holistic approach to life and the relationship between humanity and nature, an important and continuous thread in the fabric of human civilisation.展开更多
By following the Wittgensteinian view that the sense of an ethical term such as ＂nature＂ （xing ＇~） should be understood through an examination of its function in its actual philosophical context, this article tak...By following the Wittgensteinian view that the sense of an ethical term such as ＂nature＂ （xing ＇~） should be understood through an examination of its function in its actual philosophical context, this article takes a look at the notion ofxing in the Mencius from an alternative perspective. Proceeding from this perspective, it re-examines the view that xing in the Mencius should be understood in biological terms. A discussion of xing in relation to the ＂Why be moral？＂ question follows. I then offer an alternative interpretation of Mencius＇ ethics by focusing on the meaning of the ethical particulars. Contrary to common perception, I argue that Mencius＇ theory of human nature （renxing）k ＇~） need not occupy a central place in his moral philosophy; the ultimate foundation of Mencius＇ moral philosophy lies in the meaning or sense of morality. Through participating in concrete, ethical thinking and by paying attention to the ethical particulars, human beings develop their grasp of moral and ethical meaning.展开更多
Condemned by Mencius （ca.372-289 BCE） as selfishness （weiwo, 为我）, Yang Zhu＇s yangsheng philosophy in China is traditionally depicted as a philosophy of egoism and hedonism. In contrast, Yang Zhu （fl.ca.370-350...Condemned by Mencius （ca.372-289 BCE） as selfishness （weiwo, 为我）, Yang Zhu＇s yangsheng philosophy in China is traditionally depicted as a philosophy of egoism and hedonism. In contrast, Yang Zhu （fl.ca.370-350 BCE） is described as an ＂early liberal or individualist＂ hero in the Western Discussion of Chinese Philosophy. Yang Zhu may not be a liberal or individualist hero as portrayed by the West, but surely he should not be depicted as a promoter of egoism as Mencius did. Both John Emerson and A.C. Graham are probably right when they claimed that Yang Zhu was a revolutionary thinker of his own time; and ＂Yang Zhu＇s intervention for the Chinese thinking world had provoked a metaphysical crisis which had threatened the basic assumptions of Confucianism and Mohism and set them into a new course＂ （A.C. Graham 1978）. From my reading, Yang Zhu＇s influence on Chinese philosophy had been and will be even greater, although his philosophy as a whole was not practiced by Chinese society in the past due to the dominance of Confucianism. Yet as the first person who clearly emphasized nourishing of life for individuals and the first theory that rooted morality into xing （性, human nature）, Yang Zhu＇s yangsheng philosophy had indeed through history made a huge contribution to Chinese nurturing life tradition, and had great potential in providing inspiration to modern moral thinking. Many discussions initiated or developed by Yang Zhu and his followers have influenced both Confucianism and Daoism profoundly. His idea of nourishing life was not only inherited and developed by Zhuangzi and later Daoist religion from life preservation perspective, but also by Mencius and Xunzi from moral cultivation perspective. As a doctrine that has shown more and more relevance to modern society, people can find many inspirations from Yang Zhu＇s answer to the following questions： What is the aim of human life？ What is the right attitude toward life and death？ What is human nature？ What is the rel展开更多
Xing性is an important topic of ancient Chinese philosophy.The discovery of unearthed documents has deepened our understanding of xing.Xing Zi Ming Chu性自命出is probably the Guodian manuscript that has generated the m...Xing性is an important topic of ancient Chinese philosophy.The discovery of unearthed documents has deepened our understanding of xing.Xing Zi Ming Chu性自命出is probably the Guodian manuscript that has generated the most interest among scholars.This article takes Xing Zi Ming Chu and Xunzi as investigations to explore the significance of xing in the Warring States Period in China.This article believes that the xing in Xing Zi Ming Chu only refers to natural properties,and it is not as specific as Mencius and Xunzi to indicate whether it is good or bad.The article will first review the background of Guodian manuscript,introduce the basic situation of Confucian documents in Guodian manuscripts.This article will also introduce the meaning of xing in Xing Zi Ming Chu and Xunzi,which is of great value for us to understand the meaning of xing in the Warring States Period.展开更多
文摘The question of the origin of badness is a core problematic in New Confucian philosopher Xiong Shili＇s 熊十力 （1885-1968） Ming Xin Pian 明心篇 （Explaining the Mind; 1959）, a work representative of his thought towards the end of his life. In this essay, I examine how Xiong uses the concepts of the nature （xing 性） and the mind （xin 心） to explain the origin of moral badness. Xiong asserts that the Buddhists never concerned themselves with the problem of the origin of ignorance and delusion, afflictions that in turn lead to suffering and wrongdoing. Xiong sets out to redress what he claims the Buddhists had failed to do. I argue that the conceptual structure of both Xiong Shili＇s and Zhu Xi＇s （1130-1200） theoretical approaches to this problem are isomorphic. The isomorphism is significant because it suggests that Xiong consciously drew on Zhu Xi and/or the Buddhist models that Zhu in turn drew on. I provide evidence to show that even as late as 1959, and despite his increasingly entrenched criticisms of Buddhism, Xiong continued to draw on key concepts and models drawn from Buddhist philosophy of mind.
文摘As the concluding part of a series of essays on theories of humanity in the Zhuangzi, this essay aims at describing the theme of qing＇t （emotion） as a dual-directional attitude towards qing as a partner to xing ＇ （nature） and the influence of this domain of thought on later generations and their continued discussion of it. Faced with a forcible divorce of qing and xing at the hand of Han Dynasty Ruists, which would lock perceptions into a rigid dualist framework, the Wei and Jin period saw authors such as Wang Bi and Ji Kang return to a more faithful rendering of the theme of qing in the classics, the Laozi and Zhuangzi, seeing it become an ever more explicit philosophical topic and beginning a lengthy period of discussion of the theme of qing. In the Northern Song period, representative thinkers Zhang Zai and Wang Anshi The Northern Song tradition constitute a continuance of Pre-Qin Daoist philosophical ideas, providing a logical reinterpretation of the indivisibility of qing and xing from a syncretist approach to the Daoist and Ruist traditions, in a way that drastically differs from the Southern Song preference for xing at the cost of qing, as represented by thinkers such as the Brothers Cheng and Zhu Xi. At the bottom of it, this continued tradition draws from themes that appear in the Zhuangzi, a holistic approach to life and the relationship between humanity and nature, an important and continuous thread in the fabric of human civilisation.
文摘By following the Wittgensteinian view that the sense of an ethical term such as ＂nature＂ （xing ＇~） should be understood through an examination of its function in its actual philosophical context, this article takes a look at the notion ofxing in the Mencius from an alternative perspective. Proceeding from this perspective, it re-examines the view that xing in the Mencius should be understood in biological terms. A discussion of xing in relation to the ＂Why be moral？＂ question follows. I then offer an alternative interpretation of Mencius＇ ethics by focusing on the meaning of the ethical particulars. Contrary to common perception, I argue that Mencius＇ theory of human nature （renxing）k ＇~） need not occupy a central place in his moral philosophy; the ultimate foundation of Mencius＇ moral philosophy lies in the meaning or sense of morality. Through participating in concrete, ethical thinking and by paying attention to the ethical particulars, human beings develop their grasp of moral and ethical meaning.
文摘Condemned by Mencius （ca.372-289 BCE） as selfishness （weiwo, 为我）, Yang Zhu＇s yangsheng philosophy in China is traditionally depicted as a philosophy of egoism and hedonism. In contrast, Yang Zhu （fl.ca.370-350 BCE） is described as an ＂early liberal or individualist＂ hero in the Western Discussion of Chinese Philosophy. Yang Zhu may not be a liberal or individualist hero as portrayed by the West, but surely he should not be depicted as a promoter of egoism as Mencius did. Both John Emerson and A.C. Graham are probably right when they claimed that Yang Zhu was a revolutionary thinker of his own time; and ＂Yang Zhu＇s intervention for the Chinese thinking world had provoked a metaphysical crisis which had threatened the basic assumptions of Confucianism and Mohism and set them into a new course＂ （A.C. Graham 1978）. From my reading, Yang Zhu＇s influence on Chinese philosophy had been and will be even greater, although his philosophy as a whole was not practiced by Chinese society in the past due to the dominance of Confucianism. Yet as the first person who clearly emphasized nourishing of life for individuals and the first theory that rooted morality into xing （性, human nature）, Yang Zhu＇s yangsheng philosophy had indeed through history made a huge contribution to Chinese nurturing life tradition, and had great potential in providing inspiration to modern moral thinking. Many discussions initiated or developed by Yang Zhu and his followers have influenced both Confucianism and Daoism profoundly. His idea of nourishing life was not only inherited and developed by Zhuangzi and later Daoist religion from life preservation perspective, but also by Mencius and Xunzi from moral cultivation perspective. As a doctrine that has shown more and more relevance to modern society, people can find many inspirations from Yang Zhu＇s answer to the following questions： What is the aim of human life？ What is the right attitude toward life and death？ What is human nature？ What is the rel
基金supported by“The Fundamental Research Funds of Shandong University”.
文摘Xing性is an important topic of ancient Chinese philosophy.The discovery of unearthed documents has deepened our understanding of xing.Xing Zi Ming Chu性自命出is probably the Guodian manuscript that has generated the most interest among scholars.This article takes Xing Zi Ming Chu and Xunzi as investigations to explore the significance of xing in the Warring States Period in China.This article believes that the xing in Xing Zi Ming Chu only refers to natural properties,and it is not as specific as Mencius and Xunzi to indicate whether it is good or bad.The article will first review the background of Guodian manuscript,introduce the basic situation of Confucian documents in Guodian manuscripts.This article will also introduce the meaning of xing in Xing Zi Ming Chu and Xunzi,which is of great value for us to understand the meaning of xing in the Warring States Period.
