Theory On The Different Of Nature Between Human Being And Other Living Things:On Korean Confucian Han Won-jin Development Of Zhu Xi’s Theory Of Nature

The debates of whether human nature and things nature are same or different began between Confucian scholars Lee Gan and Han Won-jin in the late Choson dynasty. On the one hand,Lee Gan viewed that all beings possessed same five virtues.On the another hand, Han Won-jin who upheld that the nature between human being and other living things are different.This paper is to deliberate the structure and contribuition of Han Won-jin’s theory on the different of nature between human being and other living things, centered in theory of nature of three layers and theory of nature can be understood by Tao.In fact,the debate represents a divergence on the question of how to interpret Zhu Xi’s Philosophy, especially Zhu Xi’s theory of nature.Han Won-jin clearly aware of the dilemma of Zhu Xi’s theory of nature, namely, both to ensure that all beings were equally endowed with Li which is believed to be the universal morality, meanwhile,to ensure the nature of Human being more noble than other living things,which is caused the inherent tension not getting rid of. Han Won-jin’s efforts is trying to solve this dilemma. From the perspective,he’s theory make contribution to the development of Zhu Xi’s Theory of Nature.