Abstract:

The School of Guan(guanxue) was founded by ZHANG Zai and thus characterized by his philosophy. Concerning the Dao of Nature, ZHANG claims that the Ultimate Void(taixu) is qi as vital energy. So what matters is how qi exists through condensing and dispersing rather than whether qi exists or not(qi is being or non-being, real or empty). The philosophical perspective and the way of inquiry consequently transforms from questioning being itself to examining the way of being. Due to the close relationship between the Dao of Nature and the Dao of human beings in ZHANG, the examination of the way of being in the Dao of Nature leads to the focus on the way of existence in the Dao of human beings. Confirming ethical orders, ZHANG advocates the doctrine of "establishing the mind-heart for the heaven and earth, establishing the Dao for human beings, continuing the wisdom of past sages and bringing great peace to future generations". Embodying the value pursuit in general and the essential spirit of guanxue in particular, this doctrine units ideal and duty, and demonstrates human spiritual realm at a deeper level. Spiritual realm targets at the achievement and perfection of a human being himself. When discussing this issue, ZHANG develops his theory of human nature and the idea of "transforming the psycho-physical"(bianhua qizhi). Overcoming the theories of human nature in Mencius and Xunzi, he provides a new interpretation of the becoming of a human being.

Key words: the Ultimate Void is qi, the Dao of human beings, transforming the psycho-physical