Wang Tingxiang Philosophy of Chi

• Main Authors: Chueh, Yi Nan, 闕宜男
• Other Authors: Duh, Bau-Ruei
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/43424160290666080819

碩士 === 華梵大學 === 哲學系碩士班 === 99 === As a key character of Chi philosophy in Ming Dynasty, Wang Ting-Xiang inherited the concept of “Tai Hsti being the same as Chi” from Zhang Zai, maintaining that Chi is the source of the creation and change of universe and criticizing Neo-Confucianism and Subjective idealism unrelentingly. Wang Ting-Xiang regarded Chi as the Energy of the universe, which suggests that nothing else could surpass Chi and become Ontology. To put it differently, neither objects, Tao (truth), nor Li (reason) exist above Energy, whilst both Li and Tao are included in Chi. Wang Ting-Xiang, who inherited the concept of “Tai Hsti being the same as Chi” from Zhang Zai, regarded Chi as the basis of creation and the source of the universe, and had inspired Wang Fu-zhi, a thinker around early Qing Dynasty, to invent the philosophical system regarding Chaos. Concerning Cosmology, Wang Ting-Xiang proposed that Chi is composed of Yin Yang, being inter-dependent, interactive and interlocked and hence forming paranormal activities. He then broached a proposition of constant Chi. As to Human nature, Wang Ting-Xiang contended that Chi is inter-contained and can be regarded as Xing good and evil. Regarding Epistemology, he asserted propositions of the combination of thinking and knowledge, nurturing integrity and knowing and realizing Truth. The above philosophical thinking has founded his status in Chinese traditional philosophy. The current paper addresses only his theory on Chi, and comes up with statements on 1. explanations on Ontology and Cosmology from the theory on Chi; 2. explanations on Human nature; 3. introduction to theory of Practical and 4. the pivotal status of Wang Ting-Xiang.