Li Guangdi’s Understanding and Interpretation of the Chapter “chih yen yang ch’i ” in Mencius

Title

Li Guangdi’s Understanding and Interpretation of the Chapter “chih yen yang ch’i ” in Mencius

Author

Zu-Sheng SHEN

Page

69-106

DOI

10.6163/TJEAS.202606_23(1).0003

Abstract

On the basis of deep introspection of Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties, Li Guangdi put forward some new understandings of the meaning of “chih yen yang ch’i”知言養氣 (knowing words, cultivating ch’i). In Li Guangdi's view, benevolence and righteousness reveals the essence of the mind and establishes the keynote of work based on knowing words by probing principle and cultivating ch’i by accumulating righteousness. From his definition of the relationship between words, the mind and ch’i, he undoubtedly places the mind in the first and foremost position. By defining words and ch’i with the mind, and accumulating righteousness with the help of the mind. Li Guangdi thinks that this is the nature of “the Unperturbed Mind-heart”. Li Guangdi's interpretation of the chapter of“chih yen yang ch’i” in Mencius, when viewed in the context of the development of Song and Ming philosophy, is both an inheritance of Zhu Xi’s thought and an adapted development of the latter. Li Guangdi uses the work of probing principle to explain the general idea of knowing words and cultivating ch’i. Li Guangdi believes that knowing words comes first and cultivating ch’i follows, which is obviously inspired by Zhu Xi. However, Li Guangdi does not follow Zhu Xi’s philosophical thinking completely, which was mainly reflected in his understanding of cultivation of ch’i by accumulating righteousness. Li Guangdi's understanding of the accumulation of righteousness is different from Zhu Xi, who places great emphasis on investigating things and extending knowledge to the utmost and corresponding moral practice. Unlike Zhu Xi, Li Guangdi emphasizes the expansion and development of the virtuous subject from the inside out.

Keyword

Li Guangdi, Probing Principle, Chih-Yuan, Accumulation of Yi, Yian-Chi

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