On Zhang Zai’s Theory Of Knowing

Through analyzing the text of Zhang Zai’s discussion about "knowing"(zhi), this thesis attempts to explore the potential and unfounded meanings of Zhang Zai’s theory about "knowing", which will include the basical elements of knowing, the way of knowing and the limits of knowing in Zhang’s theory.As Zhang’s point, the movement of Qi creates everything in the world, including the subject and object of cognition, which makes the cognitive behavior possible. Because of the Qi’s effect, "knowing" has the potential capability to know Tian and Dao, which belong to the transcendental field.The effects between objects and subjects called "touch"(gan) is very important. However, some obstacles between subjects and objects which is called "stricture of seeing and hearing"(jianwenzhixia) makes gan’s effect out of work. To solve this problem, Zhang Zai proposed two related ways:"broadening one’s heart"(daxin) and experiencing things(tiwu).In addition, Zhang Zai presents the distinction between "knowing by seeing and hearing"(jianwenzhizhi) and "knowing by virtuous nature"(dexingsuozhi). As his view, "knowing by seeing and hearing" accords with the nature of cognition, which means the combination of inner side and external side in a cognitive activity. And "knowing by virtuous nature" is a totally different way of knowing, which belongs the virtuous field and understood by human in a secret way.