Study On Liu Yuxi's Viewpoint Of Nature

Tang Dynasty was one of the most flourishing ages in Chinese history, but originality of the scientific thoughts was rare in this dynasty in which lots of people only paid attention to conclusion than creation. Besides monk-Yi Xing's Second interval ranging interpolation and astronomical measurement, Liu Zongyuan and Liu Yuxi's scientific thoughts, as the opposition of Buddhist and Taoist superstition, were occupied an important position -- especially the summary and development of viewpoint of nature of vitality theory.Liu Yuxi not only is the famous statesman and writer in Tang Dynasty, but also achieves something in viewpoint of nature. According to modern science classification, viewpoint of nature belongs in the field of philosophy. But in ancient times, viewpoint of nature is the foundation and basis of the scientific research, and the mode of thinking of the science research is just as the way how the viewpoint of nature understands the nature. So, it's close relationship between ancient viewpoint of nature and nature science.First of all, Liu Yuxi's most important scientific thought is his vitality theory. Liu Yuxi thought that the world is material, and all the things stem from the Qi. This view succeeded predecessors' thought that the Qi is the only source of all the things. Moreover, Liu Yuxi scientifically defined Qi as nothing, tangible and invisible thing and put forward the contention that invisible Qi is subtle, fine and nicety. He also thought that predecessors considered invisible things as no shape. Additionally, it is argued that he developed the viewpoint that the unit of the world stems from its materiality, and this view is the rudimentary of theory that matter is not vanish. Particularly, Liu Yuxi recognized the movement of the object, and thought that things are collected through the concrete laws. At the same time, he achieved the dialectical viewpoint that things move all the time.Secondly, it is argued that the relationship between nature and human is the main point of Liu Yuxi's scientific thoughts. Liu Yuxi achieved this view from belief to criticism. He also found the cause of fatality view. Moreover, he thought that human and the nature mutually influences and exploits. And he focused on the objective property of nature and movement law. In order to control the nature, he considered that human should pay attention to their initiative, the nature law, and the harmonious among the nature, terra and nature. At last, he developed the recognition of the relationship between the nature and human.Thirdly, it is argued that Liu Yuxi set his view on the medicine standpoints which are the appliances of his nature views. He criticized the fatality view and put forward the medical thought that precaution should be before the remedy. Moreover, he correctly developed the Chinese gun pharmaceutical technology. He pointed out that quantity of medicine, tonic and catharsis must be focused on. Additionally, Liu Yuxi wrote CHUAN XIN FANG and BEN CAO JING FANG, which collect lots of available prescriptions that are full of clinical value and are panegyric among the doctors.Therefore, Liu Yuxi not only brought forth new ideas in viewpoint of nature, but also applied the philosophical and theoretical methods to his specific scientific activities. At last, he perfectly did the integration of the theory and practice.It is argued that Liu Yuxi's scientific thoughts are very rich and profound through systematical research on his scientific viewpoints and application of these thoughts. Liu Yuxi's scientific thoughts are the succession of the predecessors' scientific standpoints and innovations. For example, his thinking on the Qi develops Xun Kuang and Wang Chong's vitality theory. The thought on the relationship between nature and human is the development of Xun Kuang and Wang Chong's viewpoint that nature and human have different functions and Liu Zongyuan's thought that nature and human aren't concerned with each other. Liu Yuxi's scientific views also were of enormous influences on the later scientific thoughts. For example, Liu Yuxi's view on the relationship between visible and invisible influenced Zhang Zai and Wang Fuzhi's viewpoint that material is not eradicative and idea on the conservation movement.Combining Chinese ancient scientific thoughts, this thesis considered the characteristics, values and historical position of Liu Yuxi's scientific thoughts.