张载理观探微——兼论朱熹理气观与张载虚气观的关系问题

Chang Tsai’s Theory of Principle ——Discussing Concurrently the Relationship between Chu His’s Theory of Principle and Ether and Chang Tsai’s Theory of Void and Ether

In the academic field, there are two following phenomena that it is generally believed that Chang Tsai pays more attention to the concept of Ether than of Principle, and that Chang Tsai’s principle has not been given proper position. Accordingly, this paper explores Chang Tsai’s theory of principle from two sides. Firstly, it discusses three basic meanings about the concept of Chang Tsai’s principle, namely, “all things on the earth have principles”, “reach and go back the heaven’s principle” and “the proper behavior (Li) is principle”. Secondly, from the perspective of the whole and the part, the paper inquires about the position of the principle in Chang Tsai’s philosophy, thinking that the position of principle is equal to the Way (Dao), but as the secondary category under the concept of Heaven and not the highest ontology. By the way, it finally discusses and refutes the argument that Chu Hsi’s theory of principle and ether comes mainly from Chang Tsai’s theory of void and ether proposed by some scholars.