Surplus And Deficiency

The occurrence of Confucianism' theory of mind is based on the changes in the relationship between heaven and man.The process of the birth of the destiny from the Western Zhou Dynasty constructed a conscious background of the moral and humanistic spirit for the occurrence of the theory.The destiny changed from the collective dynasty continuation to the individual standard of personal life.In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period,Confucius even communicated with the heaven as a personal and civilian identity,the meaning of which as a supernatural ghost was gradually reduced.Instead,it was replaced by the metaphysical humanistic world created by Confucius,namely the carrier of “tao”.In the era of Meng and Xun,the Confucian theory of mind was truly developed.There is a great contrast between Meng and Xun's view of the destiny: Mencius inherited the thought of respecting the heavens and protecting the people in Shangshu,and believed that "the heaven" is the decision-maker and executor of the highest order.Not only that,Mencius proposed "heart-to-heart","intellectuality" and "knowing the heaven",but also showed the basic transcendence steps for Confucian introversion.The communication between heaven and man is entirely in one's own heart,without the need to borrow foreign objects.The distance between heaven and man has thus completely disappeared.Xunzi believes that the sky is just an ordinary substance in the natural world,and it can be used by people to "make it".Therefore,it is proposed that "the gentleman respects his own personal power,not admiring the outer power from heaven",which was the result of the continuous drop of the spirit.The difference between Meng and Xun's views directly led to their separate judgment on the "the nature of heaven." Mencius respects the destiny of destiny and determines his affirmation of the nature of talent.The sacred view of Xunzi "not admiring the heaven" determines his suspicion and negation of the nature of talent.iting the concepts of "ying" and "deficiency" in the book of rites and xunzi,the Confucian theory of mind can be divided into two basic tendencies represented by mencius and xunzi: "ying" corresponds to the affirmation of "the nature of heaven" in the context of "thick heaven",and the belief of morality in "pure heart"."xu" refers to the self-criticism of nature in the context of "valuing people" and the attitude and determination of "modest" to learn.When the basic concepts of "ying" and "xu" are initially defined,the relationship between them should also be clarified.Mencius can see in the view that "Ying" is the body and the "I inherently have those" in the human heart.Mencius' "heart" is itself "ying"-leaving this premise,its "good nature" theory is impossible to talk about.Xunzi considers "xu" as a use,and proposes "from xu to quietness",which is considered to be the only way to "how the heart knows." However,Xunzi does not deny that people have the ability to be good,and Mencius also advocates the spirit of "self-discipline".It can be seen that in the Confucian theory of mind,"ying" and "xu" are not only the one-or-one relationship,but also the two are interdependent and mutually representative.The transcendence process in which Confucianism takes "heart" as the medium and "dao" as the destination,is implemented within the theory of mind,that is,the process of "xu" to "ying".Mencius sticking to his theory of mind,man's nature itself is his “ying”,which means losing its own heart of nature is called “xu”.Returning “ying” is recurrence which needs the “consideration” of “considering others in the first place” as a vital way.Xunzi believes that "human nature" is evil,and the mind is "xu"(at least as self-considered),then through "pseudo" to complete the transformation to "ying",people need to persevere with "accumulation" as a way.The pair of "gain" and "virtual" is not absolute and static.On the contrary,it is precisely because of the "profit" and "virtual" that have come and gone,the Confucian theory of mind has been greatly developed,and even evolved into a Confucian psychology in the Song and Ming Dynasties.In the Song and Ming School of Mind,"Ying" and "Xu" have evolved into "honesty" and "respect",and the endless growth has promoted the development and evolution of the mind school,which can be seen as the influence of "ying" and "xu" in later generations.