The Explanation Of Zhang Zai's Conception Of Humanity

The issue of humanity is a controvertible question of Chinese ancient philosophy in the long time. In summarize, this question can generally be classified four kinds: the discussion of land humanity, evil humanity, kind and evil humanity not existing or existing. On the basis of conception that the nature has regularity in Confucianism, Zhangzai established humanity theory of his own.His new theory is a criticized summary of the humanity debate in the past .He affirmed : for man, the humanity is kind .which is in heritance from Mencius' conception of kind humanity; he affirmed: temperament has kindness and evil, which is criticized received of Xunzi's conception of evil humanity. He not only asserted that humanity is originally kind, but also explained the source of evil of humanity. In the course of establishing a new system of land humanity, Zhangzai absorbed both the ideas of humanity in the past and the opposed theory of Buddhism to enrich his own theory.According to the logic from the nature to man Zhangzai established his theory of humanity. The conception of regular nature that "the void is the atmosphere " is a theory basis of Zhangzai's theory of humanity. He regarded exceeded image of the noumenon "the void" as the source of "the most kindness" of the humanity of universe .In this way, he gave prominence to the void the supreme states, making up the deficiency of the theory about atmospheric university in Han and Tang Dynasty Confutianism.The humanity of temperament arises from exceeded image, which is because the difference of temperament displays on everyone's particularity.Zhangzai' s theory of humanity unifies the moral value's exceeding noumenon and humanity's reality ,which expand the space of explanation for the question of humanity and engender profound influence for later humanity theory in Confucianism history.