Gas And Influenza - Zhang Zai Philosophical Studies

Yanglihua has distinguished two kinds of Qi(气),the Qi has appearance and the Qi invisible.He also calls the invisible Qi as Qi of Taixu(太虚)But he doesn't think that Shen(神)was also a kind of Qi. I think Shen is also a kind of Qi, belonging to the invisible Qi, the Qi of Taixu.The invisible Qi is clear, but Shen is the clearest Qi.Shen is so clear that it has not any shape and Xiang(象)that we can tell about.There is nothing behind or above Shen to determine it. Actually the Qi has Xiang and the Qi has appearance or shape are condensation of Shen.Mencius influenced Zhangzai much.Actully Zhangzai's Qi of Taixu can be traced its source to Mencius. Mencius had talked about a kind of Qi that he called as HaoRanZhiQi(浩然之气).It was matched with Yi(义)and Dao(道)It contained something that today we called spirit.It is so big but also it is so thin, if one cultured it directly, it can fill up the world.Zhangzai spoke of HarRan(浩然)many times.He said that "the world is filled with Qi, it is what I have Ti(体)；what is the commander of the world is what I have Xing(性)"But we must notice that what filled the world with is not a common Qi but the invisible Qi, the Qi of Taixu, the HaoRanZhiQi. Before an individual comes to the world, there is HaoRanZhiQi that the sages have cultured and stuffed it.A person is gifted with HanRanZhiQi, but this clear Qi can be corrupted by one's too strong desire.So it is important to him to control one's lust and clear the Qi day and day till it is so clear that one can called it as HaoRanZhiQi again.To ZhangZai, his vital concepts can all be linked to the Qi of Taixu. Some concepts talked about the Tii[体)of Qi, like Tian(天),'Tiandii(天地),Taixu(太虚),Taiji(太极).Some talked about The Yong(用)of Qi.A person is gifted with HaoRanZhiQi, so the Qi is his Xingi(性).'The heart is a little Taixu, filled with Qi.It is clear first but it can be densed and corrupted.One must clear the Qi so the heart is so clear like a mirror that can reflect and mirror himself and control his activity.One important concept is the Heart of Tiandi(天地之心),or somewhere he also said as the Heart of Tian(天心).This concept can be traced to the book Yi(易),where the heart of Tiandi is talked about the growing and growing of Qi, without any stop.Zhangzai also used this concept to talk the vitality of Qi.Although he didn't think that the Tian really has a heart to determine the world, he did think that the Tian is growing and growing with no stop like a man has benevolence, a kind heart.Actully most times he use this concept to refer to the hearts of people, the common will of people, the common sense.It is important for a gentleman to observe and realize what is the common will of the people.To learn what the people think or what judgement the people will make, one must control his own lust, his own will, and he should not be selfish. Also he must consider what judgement the people will make then he makes his judgement.In this process, he uses the power of judgement.Qi has two kinds of activity.One is stretching, and it also can be called Yang(阳)；:he other is bending, and it also can be called Ying(阴).The process of stretching and bending can be called Gan(感).Without Qi there can be no Gan and Without Gan there is no Qi.Qi is Gan.Gan is Qi. It is Gan that make it possible that Qi growing and growing without any stop.Gan links One and Many and turns the special things into One.The sage has wisdom to use Gan. There are two processes.The sage judges what the people will judge then the sage makes his judgement learned by the people.During these processes, the sage clears his own heart, considers the desire of the people and make the judgement that can be accepted by the people.Zhangzai distinguish the knowledge that we get through eyes or ears and the Knowledge(知)of Virtue(德性所知)The Knowledge of Virtue is not the Knowledge that we can get just by reflcting ourselves.It contains a sphere that one communicate with others.It needs the sage place himself on the place of people and learn the desire of people.Talking about the goal and level of XiMing(《西铭》),"What I have Ti" and "What I have Xing" is the same thing, the Qi of Taixu. Because we are all gifted with the Qi of Taixu and because the Qi is stretching and bending, we can feel the pleasure or pain of others. And the power of judgement can help us to learn the will of people and make our judgement known by people. Then the state of "People are my brothers or sisters and things are my friends" is not a just idea but can be practiced really.