Shi Ren and Defining Temperament: A Study of Cheng Mingdao's Philosophy from the Perspective of Cultivation Methodology

Author: Guo Xiaodong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: This book is a specialized study on the thought of the Northern Song Dynasty philosopher Cheng Hao (Ming Dao). The author aims to interpret Cheng Mingdao's philosophy from the perspective of gongfu theory by analyzing the three aspects of metaphysics, epistemology, and gongfu theory in Cheng Hao's thought and their interrelationships, offering a new interpretation of his philosophy. The book argues that these three elements are not independent and unrelated parts but an interconnected whole. The understanding of the metaphysical realm determines the proper path of gongfu; conversely, the path of gongfu can reveal the metaphysical realm it embodies. Epistemology serves as the mediator between metaphysics and gongfu theory. The metaphysical realm is not a mere abstract realization but is grounded in the understanding of the mind-nature. Only by deeply comprehending the mind-nature can the gongfu theory find its foundation. The book asserts that the most distinctive feature of Ming Dao's philosophy lies in gongfu theory, as expressed in the Discourse on Recognizing Benevolence ("Scholars must first recognize benevolence"). In Ming Dao's view, recognizing benevolence is not merely about realizing the metaphysical realm; realizing the metaphysical realm itself is a form of gongfu, and the metaphysical realm and gongfu are one and the same. This is precisely the difference between Ming Dao and the learning of Zhu Xi in the school of Ichuan, and it is also one of the reasons why Ming Dao's thought has had such a profound influence on later generations.