The Study Of Zhang Zai's Treatise Of Human Nature

The problem of Human nature is controversial and uncertain issues in the history of Chinese philosophy. It generally can be divided into four theories: the goodness of human nature, the badness of human nature, human nature is neither good nor bad and human nature from some point is good and from the other point is bad. Philosopher Zhang Zai constructs his theory of human nature on the basis of the concept of "Tiandao View". Zhang zai's theory of human nature is a critical summary based on the past theories of human nature. Zhang zai constructs the new system of human nature not only use the past theories of human nature but the concept of "Tiandao".This thesis consists three parts. In the first part, the author discusses Zhang Zai's Taixu(太虚). In Zhang Zai's View, it is the fountainhead of everything and Qi is the basis of Taixu in "Tiandao". This could not only emphasize the ontological status of Taixu, but display the role of Qi in the process of the creation of the Universe. It is eternal, universal, unchanged. Taixu has both the similarities and the differences with Qi. These two parts unifies a system. Zhang Zai has made "Tiandao View" as the basis of his theory.In the second part, there is the analysis of Zhang Zai's contribution to the theory of human nature. Zhang Zai's theory of human nature is a summary and important development of the ancient theory of human nature. Zhang Zai's theory of human nature unifies the ontology of moral values and reality of human nature and expands the interpretative space of human nature. In Zhang Zai's View, the nature of the world is the nature of human being, which will never be changed. Zhang Zai believes that the development of the people's personalities can be in a good way or in a bad way. This offers the theoretical basis to the necessity of cultivating human's moral.In the third part, the author discusses the destination of Zhang Zai's theory. In Zhang Zai's opinion, people were born with goodness. But, because of the interference from the outside, people might become bad. So, in order to maintain the good manners, people should study hard, obey the rules, set the goals, and think over before any action.Zhang Zai's theory of human nature unifies the ontology of moral values and reality of human nature and expands the interpretative space of human nature. Zhang Zai's theory is a sum-up and an important development of the ancient Chinese theories of human nature. It can not only have a profound influence on the latter theories of human nature, but also help the reconstruction of the Humanities spirit and the development of the personalities.