Zhang Zai · Philosophy

The Two Natures: How the Good Can Go Wrong

Zhang Zai’s solution to the ancient problem of evil in human nature: a distinction between the pure, good “nature of Heaven and Earth” shared by all, and the mixed “physical nature” (qizhi zhi xing) given by one’s bodily endowment of qi - which can be transformed, through learning and ritual, back toward the good.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned that Zhang Zai distinguished the “nature of Heaven and Earth” (pure, good, shared by all) from the “physical nature” or endowment (qizhi zhi xing, varying with the clarity of one’s qi), that this explains how a good nature can yield evil, and that the physical nature can be transformed (bianhua qizhi…

Leads to Zhu Xi.

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