Exoplore Zhan Ruo-Shui’s Neo-Confucian Philosophy

This paper takes the cultivation theory as a breakthrough point to recognise Zhan Ruo-shui (Gan-quan)’s Neo-Confucian philosophy.The paper is divided into four parts.The first part states the heart opinion of Gan-quan’s cultivation theory Appreciating natural principle everywhere. Gan-quan thought that the natural principle is the middle and straight thing-in-itself of our mind, he opposed the theory of finding natural principle outside our mind.At the same time, he understood the natural principle as something without a fixed pattern, which cannot be found outside daily realities.In his mind,the middle and straight thing-in-itself of our mind must be shown in the process of the intentional activities. Correspondingly, he emphasized the theory of "multiple modes share a single substance",but his idea was different from Zhu-Xi’s.Gan-quan also thought that the cultivating pratice "appreciating" was necessary,it containing two parts:seeking knowledges and taking actions.He thought that knowledges and actions should be proceeded together, which was different from Wang Yang-ming(Wang Shou-ren)’s idea of seeking knowledges and taking actions are one.Second part researches the consistence of Gan-quan’s understanding of "study the phenomenon of nature(Ge-Wu) "and the theory"appreciating natural principle everywhere".Gan-quan thought that in the eight items of the《Higher Education (Da-Xue)》, the item "study the phenomenon of nature(Ge-Wu)" is the guiding principle, study the phenomenon of nature means to appreciate natural principle in everything around us,from the inside to the outside, concluding the sincerity, the mind, the body,the family,the nation,and the whole world. Wang Yang-ming held a different idea of this. Actually, the difference rooted on their different understandings of" study the phenomenon of nature", and which depended on their own cultivation theory,.Gan-quan thought natural principle cannot be found outside concrete realities, while Yang-ming thought the natural principle was as equal as the conscience(true knowledge) in our own mind,and it must be found independently. As a consequence, their ideas of "study the phenomenon of nature(Ge-Wu) "appeared in different matters.Third part states the method and attitude issue of the cultivation theory in Gan-quan’s idea. He mentioned that one must make ambitions to be a holy man and understand basic idea of being a human being. At the same time, he especially thought great highly of the undoubtable authority of Confucianism classic scriptures, believing that reading them can enlighten one and help one’s self-cultivation. Be reverently attentive in ordinary affairs and neither encouraging nor forgeting the action is Gan-quan’s main idea in the issue of the attitude of the cultivation. He thought "hold one" is reverence, but "hold one"cannot be treated as holding one thing in the mind,or holding the natural principle in the mind, holding a thing in the mind means two. He thought that when holding nothing in the mind, natural principle can be shown itself naturally. This idea was inherited from his hierophant, Chen Xian-zhang (Bai-sha). Gan-quan also thought being reverent was not only a matter in the mind,but also a matter in the ordinary affairs, both inner and outer.This idea was different from Bai-sha.Wang Yang-ming did not agree with this idea,he thought there must be one thing in the mind,which was conscience,or one could not be a good man,for the conscience would not be shown by itself in human activity.From this different attitude, we can understand that Gan-quan really inherited from Bai-sha,and Yang-ming did not.Gan-quan also mentioned the cultivation idea of destroy the influenced mind". Besides, he thought the imperial examination system can be helpful for ordinary person’s self-cultivation, which is quite special.The fourth part is the conclusion part.It firstly states the mean target of Gan-quan’s cultivation theory:all in one.By which Gan-quan meant that all the cultivated programmes belonging to one, and the one was everywhere in one’s daily experience,even our whole life was part of the ultimate existence,which was the active "Qi(air)".Then it states the the ontology base of Gan-quan’s cultivation theory. In Gan-quan’theory,"Qi" was the basic ontology category."Qi"was active,with both spiritual meaning and material meaning.With the help of the mind,"Qi"could show its principle. Based on this theory, Gan-quan argued that the order of the universe was the order of morals,which was totally different from Taoism and Buddhism. Correspondingly,he held the opinion that the three different teaching system,the Confucianism,the Buddahism,the Taosim,must be recognised separatly.Gan-quan’s theory is special and indelible in the Neo-Confucian moral philosophy.