Discussion On The Development Of The Qi Thought

From the perspective of epistemology and on the basis of Zhang Liwen's theory of Qi's structural system,this paper believes that the development of the idea of Qi is mainly reflected in the deepening development of its structural system.According to Zhang Liwen,Qi's structural system consists of three aspects: Qi the material force,its variability,and extensibility,based on which this paper assumes that the deepening and extension of Qi's structural system are concretely reflected in three aspects which form the Qi's structural shows two ways: first is that the contents and forms of the three aspects that constitute Qi's structural system become richer and more explicit,second is that the connection among them become more deepening.which lies in real also shows two aspects: first is the increasingly deepening connection between Qi's movability and space-time,second is the emerging unification of spirit and material,nature and human world.Taking the basic of the former judgment as the stander and combined with the original books,the paper thought that: “Tao's existence” and “Tao produces matters”which is the universe generate structure in “Lao zi”.On the one hand,it provided possible to the development of the thought of “Qi” and the formation of the structural of “Qi” system,on the other hand,the theory also has its own shortage which is “Tao”has nothingness and abstract character.Secondly,whether the book of “Guan zi” and the book of “zhuang zi” completed in Warring States Period or the book of “Lv shi chun qiu”and the book of “Huai nan zi” completed in Qin and Han dynasties were all insisting the "Tao" is the basic of the universe,and they are all taking and developing the “Tao existence” and “Tao produces matters” which is the universe generate structure in different extent,the main performance about it which is the structure of the “Qi” system own deepen.Specifically,there are two main aspects could be reflected by “Guan zi” developed the structure of the “Qi”system: firstly,“Guan zi”insisted the "Tao" is the basic of the universe,on this basic “Guan zi” took and developed the "Tao existence",and used "essence of Qi" provision the state of ”Taoexistence”.established the essence of Qi's material.This activity made “essence of Qi”become the natural things origin.It also avoided the Tao's nothingness and abstract characteristics,to some extend.But,because of the limitation of environment and the personal vision,“Guan zi” couldn't be able to use the “essence of Qi” to explain the existence of heaven and earth.Secondly,“Guan zi” applied the Qi's accumulation and dispersion which is the function of air dynamic capable to the person's body and the nature.on this basic,“Guan zi” developed the volatility of “Qi”.To some extent,which made the internal between personal man and the inner of nature,people and nature come true.Zhuang zi adhered to regard the “Tao” as the basic of the universe,on this foundation,he promoted the development of the thought of Qi,which concretely reflected in two main aspects: firstly,the existing and not existing“Qi” in the book of “Zhuang zi” enrich the substance of “Qi” aerosols,it also be regarded as a linker existing in the process of “Tao produced matters” or a basic material constituted the nature things by “Tao”,and provided the theory to support it.the theory about “Qi”in “Zhuang zi” admitted the Tao's existence which avoided the Tao's nothingness and abstract characteristics to some extend.Secondly,“zhuang zi” combined the accumulation and dispersion active of “Qi” with material “Qi”.on the one hand,which developed the volatility of “Qi”;On the other hand,which provided the theory to explain the death of people and the through,connect,turning existed in everything,finally got an conclusion which is that,"Heaven and earth connect in Qi".but,the thought of “Qi” in “Zhuang zi” has its own shortage,which is that when everything diminished will come back to the nothingness “Tao”.While Xun zi was not a Taoist scholar,but,his thoughts about“Qi” also played a important role in the development of “Qi”.And the development thought of “Qi”in the book of “Xun zi”was reflected on mainly two aspects: firstly,"xunzi" abstracted “Qi” from natural things by using inductive method.then “Xun zi” unitied all things in this “Qi”,and on this bisic “Xun zi” developed the material “Qi” in the end.Secondly,“Xun zi” emphasized that,the biochemical function of Yin and Yang have played very important role in the activity of material things growing and turning,which idea developed the volatility of “Qi”.Moreover,on the basis of absorbing and summarizing previous theories about the idea of Qi in a critical manner,scholars in early Qin and Han dynasty gained a broader and more profound knowledge about material force.Specifically speaking,there were four points: first,compared to scholars during Warring States times,scholars in early Qin and Han dynasties represented by Lv's Spring and Autumn andHuai Nan Tzu went deep into the cosmic generation system that “the Tao begets all things of the world”,analyzing the relation between “Tao” and “One”,based on which they changed the original “Tao engenders One” that stressed the relation between“Bear” and “Born” into “Tao is one” which emphasized their relation of approaching each other,in which “Tao” is deemed as the state of being that's the closest to“One”(the Chaotic undivided state);second,they considered “Essence”,“Force”,and“the Oneness” into the same category as “Tao”;third,they perceived “Essence” and“Force” as the state of being that “One is Tao”,with which as the connecting medium,“Essence” and “Force” become the Qi that can be both the source of all and the matter that constitutes all;four,on the basis of emphasizing the important influence of the contradictory movement of yin and yang in “Tao begets all things”,they acknowledged the quantification of Qi.To sum up,it can be concluded that the contributions to the development of the idea of Qi made by scholars in early Qin and Han dynasties mainly lie in the following aspects: first,admit the existence of Tao and further enriching and developing Qi the material force;second,further refining the contents of Qi the material force based on developing Qi the material force and its extensibility and variability;third,spreading the perception of Qi to the whole nature and human society.further promoting the deepening development of the structural system of Qi.