“止乃光明”:张载“止”论

Zhi(止)is the Light: Zhang Zai's Expatiation on Zhi(止)

"止"的基本义是停止。张载提出"易大抵以艮为止,止乃光明",创造性地将"止"解释为光明。在张载这里,"止"不是外在强制性的停止,而是关乎内心之定的安止,所谓"定则自光明"。"止"不仅是从蒙昧到光明的关键,也和理学修身工夫紧密联系在一起。一方面,张载反复强调"人心多则无由光明",认为人应当通过修身来摒弃物欲私心,以发见湛一本性之光明,而修身的要义就在于"止"。另一方面,张载指出"集义久则自有光明",要求行止动静适合时宜,是为"义"也;日积月累,是为"集"也。更进一步,集者,安止也;集义者,集气也,集虚也。在这个意义上,集太虚之气,变化气质,则自有光明。

The basic meaning of Zhi （止）is stopping. Zhang Zai proposed that“Yi（易）regarded the Gen（艮）as Zhi （止）and Zhi （止）is the light” , and interpreted Zhi （止）as light creatively. In Zhang Zai＇s opinion,Zhi （止）is not the kind of stopping that is grudging, strained or extrinsic, but a matter of the inner peace andstability. Zhi（止）is not only the key from benighted to light, but also closely related to the self-cultivation ofNeo-Confucianism of the Song Dynasty. Zhang Zai emphasized that more material desires and selfish motivesmeans less light. Zhang Zai held that a human being should get rid of material desires and selfish motives throughself-cultivation to realize and identify the light of the natural instinct of Zhan Yi（湛-） , while the key of theself-cultivation is Zhi （止） . On the other hand, Zhang Zai pointed out that the collection of Yi（义）can lead tothe light. Yi （义）means that the advancing and stopping is always appropriate; Ji （集）means days-and-months＇multiplying. Furthermore, collecting the gas from the Great Void （太虚）and changing the natural instinct throughself-cultivation can lead to light.