Mencius' "Zhi Yan Yang Qi Zhang" Explained The Internal Syndrome

The chapter of understanding words and nourishing the vital force is the most wonderful chapter,but it is also the most holocryptic chapter in Mencius.Many scholars payed attention to this chapter in history,and there are countless writings that are relevant to the chapter of understanding words and nourishing the vital force.However,predecessors focused on eldcidating Mencius's thought and ignored the difference between Sun-chou Kung and Mencius.From the concrete context and discourse venation of the chapter,it is showed that Sun-chou Kung and Mencius expressed different understanding toward "being not moved",which is caused by their different perspectives.From the perspective of externalization,Sun-chou Kung viewed "being not moved" as a kind of profound state,While Mencius considered it as moral mind from the perspective of internalization.In the process of guiding Sun-chou Kung,Mencius clarifyed the "being not moved" achieved by nourishing courage.First of all,He explained Bei Gong-you's extrinsic courage,and then he illustrated Men Shi-she's internal courage,and finally he interpreted Zengzi's internal and moral courage.Mencius pointed out the difference between empirical world and moral world.In the following chapters,Mencius refered to Gaozi's "being not moved" and illustrated the advantages and disadvantages of Gaozi's theory of cultivations.Mencius finally clarified the theory of "understanding words and nourishing the vital force" after criticizing Gaozi's doctrine of "outside justice".In the dialogue between Mencius and Sun-chou Kung,Mencius guided Sun-chou Kung gradually and hoped that Sun-chou Kung can focus on the moral world.But Sun-chou Kung did not understand Mencius's thought from beginning to end,which embodies the difference of approach between theoretical speculation and life practice.The chapter of understanding words and nourishing the vital force refers to some important concepts,such as "mind","ch'i" and "words".Philosophiers often constructed their philosophical systems by interperting this chapter in ancient China,like Chang Tsai,Chu Hsi and Wang Yang-ming and so on.So this chapter has the significance of system construction.Some scholars try to study mind-body problem of this chapter,which can be compared with western body philosophy.There are also some similarities between the theory of cultivations and efforts in the chapter and western psychotherapy,which can make a comparative study.So "the chapter of understanding words and nourishing the vital force" can also promote cultural exchanges between China and the West.Besides,from the concrete context and discourse venation of the chapter,the chapter embodies a kind of humanistic spirit,so this chapter also has the significance of manifesting the education of bearing morality of the Confucianism.