英文摘要 |
Zhang Zai's Correcting Ignorance is known for its obscure content. Zhu Zi's interpretation of it, based on the theory of li-qi and xin-xing, has a great influence on later philosophers' discussions on the topic. Wang Zhi's book The Original Meaning of Correcting Ignorance, as one of most complete collections of commentaries on Correcting Ignorance during the Ming and Qing dynasties, nevertheless attempts to go beyond the interpretive framework provided by Zhu Zi and present a new approach to revisit the philosophical problems faced by Zhang Zai, and his contributions. The basic gist of Wang Zhi's interpretation of Correcting Ignorance revolves around the idea of rejecting the division of substance (ti) and function (yong). Many previous commentarial works on Correcting Ignorance tend to explain the concept of the Great Vacuity in terms of li. However, Wang Zhi argues that this understanding of the Great Vacuity is theoretically problematic because it would lead to the unacceptable result of deconstructing the concept of the Great Vacuity. Specifically, Wang Zhi starts with the analysis of three aspects of the meaning of the Great Vacuity, and then examines the structure of Zhang Zai's philosophy based on the idea that qi is consisted of substance and function. In his view, Zhang Zai's philosophy is neither a naturalistic theory of qi nor a transcendental theory of the Way (dao), but a theory of substance-function, focusing on that substance is necessarily realized in its function. From today's perspective, Wang Zhi, as one of numerous interpreters of Zhang Zai's philosophy, is certainly confined to his own understanding and theoretical position, and his interpretation of Correcting Ignorance may not strictly conform to Zhang Zai's real thoughts. Nevertheless, Wang Zhi's interpretation of Correcting Ignorance, from the perspective of hermeneutics and considering its explanatory power, does count as a distinguished commentarial work, which cannot be ignored in the study of the philosophy of Correcting Ignorance in the Ming and Qing dynasties. |