On Zhu Xi’s Distinction between Heavenly Principle and Human Desire

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Zhu Xi’s distinction between heavenly principle and human desire (理欲之辨) has been more often than not criticized by modern men, either as asceticism or as “demolishing humans with heavenly principles” (以理殺人). It should be acknowledged that errors are bound to occur should one employ modern languages to re-interpret ancient thoughts. For one thing, the discourse system internal to ancient times presupposed a self-evident premise that is different from that in modern times, a difference which, if ignored, will surely lead us to misinterpretations and misunderstandings. As a matter of fact, such misinterpretations and misunderstandings can be seen at the various levels of a modern reading of Zhu Xi’s distinction between principle and desire. In recent years, misunderstandings on such concepts as human desire (人欲), human mind (人心), or partial profit (私利) have received certain attention among scholars, an attention that has far to go yet in order to free itself from the shackles of modern contexts. By way of contrast, misunderstandings of other concepts, such as heavenly principle (天理) and the sage (聖人), have not received due reflection so far. Misinterpretations offered by such scholars as Feng Youlan (馮友蘭) and Mou Zongsan (牟宗三) are still popular among modern students of Zhu Xi, thus showing in a nutshell a coarse distortion of ancient ideas in modern contexts. These misunderstandings have not only hidden from view the profound meanings of Zhu Xi’s arguments, but also the intension of Zhu Xi’s theory of principle as a whole. This article attempts to offer a clarification of Zhu Xi’s distinction between principle and desire, through examining the different contexts of ancient and modern times and the self-evident premises therein, so as to reveal an alternative path of exploring the profound ideas in Zhu Xi’s Theory of Principle.

참고문헌 (Reference)

1 Feng Youlan, "zhongguo zhexueshi xinbian 中國哲學史新編 (New Compilation of the History of Chinese Philosophy) Vol.5" People’s Press 1988

2 Chen Lai, "Zhuxi zhexue yanjiu 朱熹哲學研究 (Studies on the Philosophy of Zhu Xi)" China Social Sciences Press 1988

3 Zhao Feng 趙峰., "Zhu xi zhi li bianxi 朱熹之理辨析 (An Analysis of Zhu Xi’s Principle), In Yuandao 原道 (Explicating the Way) Vol.18" Beijing Normal University Press 2012

4 Mou Zongsan, "Xinti yu xingti 心體與性體 (Noumenon of Mind and Nature)" Shanghai Ancient Documents Press 1999

5 Zhao Feng, "Shilun dilixi zhongji guanhuai de zhongjixing 試論蒂裏希’終極關懷’的’終極性 (On Ultimacy in Tilick’s Ultimate Concern), In Yu dunking xiansheng bashi shouchen jinianji 餘敦康先生八十壽辰紀念集 (Collected Works to Commemorate the Eightieth Birthday of Mr. Yu Dunkang)" Beijing Normal University Press 2009

6 Gardner, Daniel, "Learning to Be A Sage" University of California Press 1990

7 Gu Hongming, "Guhongming wenji 辜鴻銘文集 (Collected Works of Gu Hongming)" Hainan Press 1996

8 Chan, Wing-tsit, "Chu Hsi: New Studies" University of Hawaii Press 1989