The following article discusses the different schools of Chinese philosophy. In particular, we’ll discuss the Yin and yang concept, the Principle of Nature, and the Mencian school. For more in-depth discussion, read my other articles on Chinese Philosophy. I hope you’ll find them informative and useful. As you read, consider the following questions:
Principle of nature
The Confucian worldview posits the relationship between man and nature as a filial relationship, where nature provides us with the sustenance, nourishment, guidance, and intelligibility that we need for human flourishing. Likewise, nature requires the same respect from human beings. A filial relationship with nature is central to the process of self-realization, which includes cultivating oneself in relationship to nature. By cultivating oneself in relationship to nature, humans participate in the vast processes of nature, including creating a benevolent government, developing culture, and establishing social systems.
In this context, the Xunzi’s approach to Nature is arguably the most rational and practical of the three. It is not, however, a rejection of religious practices, since it does not suggest that we dispense with rituals aimed at divination, spirits, or gods. Instead, Xunzi emphasizes the importance of moral behavior. This approach is consistent with the philosophy of the Sufis, which holds that the human mind is the center of the universe, and that the principles of nature and society must be the same for all.
Yin and yang
Yin and yang are the opposite ends of the same spectrum and regulate themselves to maintain an equilibrium. They are not separate but interdependent, like the human body. The concept of yin and yang is most easily understood through nature. Think of the bathwater – purely hot water can be too hot to relax, but once you mix cold water with hot, you’ll be fine. In this way, yin and yang are the polar opposites of the temperature spectrum.
Yin and yang in Chinese philosophical thought first came into being around 100 AD, when the first Chinese dictionary was created. In this era, yin represented a closed door, and yang represented brightness. An early recorded instance of yin and yang appearing together was a reference to the shady and sunny side of a hill. However, their use in modern science is more limited.
Logicians
There were many logical schools of thought in ancient China. For example, the School of Names was an influential school. Its members engaged in debates, persuasion, and policy decisions. In addition, these thinkers often acted as wandering political advisors to the regional lords. Ultimately, the School of Names died out after the Qin dynasty. This article explores the development of logic in ancient China and how it relates to other branches of philosophy.
The School of Names was a group of philosophers in Warring States China. These thinkers took pride in disputing and confusing people with their words. One famous example of this is Deng Xi, the first lawyer in ancient China. His court trials were filled with wordplay to argue both sides of a case. Contrary judgments can be true. Deng Xi, however, was executed for his efforts.
The Human minds Principle, or li, is a key concept in Chinese philosophy. This principle explains why things are real. According to Zhu Xi, the Supreme Ultimate (the supreme) possesses the principles of shape and order. It did not begin as a blank surface; it had to be shaped by something before it could be created by human beings. While Wang does not deny that concrete things have a world, he argues that they lack a certain level of patterning.
Mencian school
The Xunzi and Mencius schools of Chinese philosophy were two different philosophies with radically different views of human nature. Mencius argued that all human beings were born with innate dispositions toward virtue. The Xunzi, on the other hand, denied this. According to him, a person’s nature was only a matter of innate virtue and not a result of cultural or social conditioning.
In the first edition of Mencius, he criticized the concept of “mutual benefit”. As a result, his critique was a mistranslation of a similar word that refers to the aspect of one’s personality, not to the nature of the child. In contrast, the earliest edition of Mencius, published in Prague in 1711, was praised by the Chinese government as a useful tool in educating the Chinese population.
In contrast, the Mencian school focuses on a different definition of “benevolence,” arguing that there are four parts to a human’s heart. In his view, the heart is the root system of all virtues, and these virtues sprout out of it. They are benevolence, duty, righteousness, courtesy, and chih. In this way, benevolence is a virtuous trait, while righteousness is a concern for one’s fellow man.
Han Fei’s philosophy
A recent study of the late third-century philosopher Han Fei shows a close relationship between Xunzi and Han Fei’s political philosophy. While little is known about Xunzi’s philosophy, Han Fei’s concept of xing, or “human nature,” is of fundamental importance to Han Fei’s political philosophy. This distinction, between Xunzi and Han Fei, can be attributed to Han Fei’s strong affinity for Confucian philosophy.
Han Fei’s theory of statecraft traces the development of a state’s power through the use of laws. Laws are a mechanism that intelligent rulers use to select men for public offices and measure their qualifications. But this doesn’t mean that rulers can simply abrogate laws and ignore the human will. Rather, intelligent rulers employ administrative techniques to ensure that the rules are followed, punishing those who fail to do so.
When the country was abundant, people did not value goods as highly as they do now. In times of scarcity, people have become greedy and aggressive. In this situation, a ruler should not try to win people over by attempting to change their nature or to make them better citizens. The reason for this is that the minds of men are as fickle as an infant. If they were not guided by any guiding principles, they would be doomed to failure.
Xuan Xuanxue
The philosophic tradition of the Han dynasty was characterised by the development of commentaries, the primary medium of philosophical discourse. These commentaries emphasized the detailed explanation of individual words and phrases, necessitating heavy specialization and a tendency to fragment learning and display virtuosity. Wang Bi, a brilliant scholar, challenged the orthodoxy of the Han dynasty and embarked on a vigorous new philosophical inquiry. His work is known as Xuan Xuanxue, which translates as Scholarly Exploration of the Dark. The philosophical discussion that follows proceeds through subtle indications contained in Confucius’ Analects, which he viewed as “the Book of Changes.
The Xuan Xuanxenese were the most brilliant of their age and belonged to distinguished families. They aimed to return the unity of the land through the interpretation of the teachings of the ancient sages. Among the Chinese philosophers, they recognised that Confucius shared their understanding of the Dao. Xuan Xuanxue criticized Han Confucianism and promoted the understanding of the Dao.
Mengzi’s anti-linguistic version of Neo-Confucianism
The Book of Changes, written by a minor royal in one of the warring states, was seen by scholars as a work by the “quietists” of the late Warring States period. It is often described as wisdom, and conventionally, the Book of Changes is divided into two parts: a meditation on the Dao and a discourse on the de. The text is, however, ordered in a different manner, with the first part of the book containing the Dao and the second part focusing on the de.
The two schools of Chinese philosophy oppose one another on some issues. The anti-linguistic version of Neo-Confucianism in Chinese philosophy, called Mengzi’s anti-linguistic version of Neo-Confuccianism, emphasizes ritual and its flexibility. While it might seem counterintuitive to think that human nature is bad, it is a natural phenomenon that is a result of uncontrolled appetitiveity.
Dai Zhen’s belief in principle
The concept of principle in Chinese philosophy is not unique to the Daoist tradition, but Dai Zhen’s work is a central figure in the tradition. In contrast to Neo-Confucianism, which has become an enduring icon of Chinese philosophy, Dai rejects this idea and advocates a return to a more naturalistic reading of the classics. He also rejects Daoist speculations, but he does provide important resources for contemporary moral theory.
The Dai argues that things are in their proper patterns when the feelings that govern them don’t err. As such, the Dai views shu as a process of selecting and extending one’s own desires. Dai Zhen’s belief in principle in Chinese philosophy encompasses the practice of shu. It is an exercise in comparing one’s own emotions with those of another, allowing us to learn from both experiences.
Dai Zhen’s views on principle are crucial to understanding modern Chinese philosophy. He was a seminal figure in early modern Chinese philosophy, and his contributions were often ignored. His closest contemporary friends include Hong Bang and Zhang Xuecheng. In addition, his close friend Duan Yucai wrote a biography of Dai Zhen, and he worked on conventional philological problems.