Li (Neo-Confucianism)
Encyclopedia
Li （理）is a concept found in Neo-Confucian Chinese philosophy.
It refers to the underlying reason and order of nature as reflected in its organic forms.
It may be translated as rational principle
or law. It was central to Zhu Xi
's integration of Buddhism
into Confucianism. Zhu Xi held that li, together with qi
(氣: vital, material force), depend on each other to create structures of nature and matter. The sum of li is the Taiji
.
This idea resembles the Buddhist notion of li, which also means principle. Zhu Xi maintained, however, that his notion is found in I Ching
(Book of Changes), a classic source of Chinese philosophy
.
Zhu Xi's school came to be known as the School of Li, which is comparable to rationalism
. To an even greater extent than Confucius, Zhu Xi had a naturalistic world-view. His world-view contained two primary ideas: qi and li. Zhu Xi further believed that the conduct of the two of these took places according to Tai Ji.
Holding to Confucius and Mencius' conception of humanity as innately good, Zhu Xi articulated an understanding of li as the basic pattern of the universe, stating that it was by understanding these principles that one could live with li and live an exemplary life. In this sense, li according to Zhu Xi is often seen as similar to the [Dao] in Daoism or to [telos] in Platonic philosophy. Wang Yangming
, a philosopher who opposed Zhu Xi's ideas, held that li was to be found not in the world but within oneself. Wang Yangming was thus more of an idealist with a different epistemic approach.
Many philosophers have tried to better explain it, Alan Watts
being one of the prominent 21st century authors on the subject.
It refers to the underlying reason and order of nature as reflected in its organic forms.
It may be translated as rational principle
Principle
A principle is a law or rule that has to be, or usually is to be followed, or can be desirably followed, or is an inevitable consequence of something, such as the laws observed in nature or the way that a system is constructed...
or law. It was central to Zhu Xi
Zhu Xi
Zhū Xī or Chu Hsi was a Song Dynasty Confucian scholar who became the leading figure of the School of Principle and the most influential rationalist Neo-Confucian in China...
's integration of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
into Confucianism. Zhu Xi held that li, together with qi
Qi
In traditional Chinese culture, qì is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as life energy, lifeforce, or energy flow. Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts...
(氣: vital, material force), depend on each other to create structures of nature and matter. The sum of li is the Taiji
Taiji
Taiji 太極 is a Chinese cosmological term for the "Supreme Ultimate" state of undifferentiated absolute and infinite potentiality, contrasted with the Wuji 無極 "Without Ultimate"...
.
This idea resembles the Buddhist notion of li, which also means principle. Zhu Xi maintained, however, that his notion is found in I Ching
I Ching
The I Ching or "Yì Jīng" , also known as the Classic of Changes, Book of Changes and Zhouyi, is one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts...
(Book of Changes), a classic source of Chinese philosophy
Chinese philosophy
Chinese philosophy is philosophy written in the Chinese tradition of thought. The majority of traditional Chinese philosophy originates in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States era, during a period known as the "Hundred Schools of Thought", which was characterized by significant intellectual and...
.
Zhu Xi's school came to be known as the School of Li, which is comparable to rationalism
Rationalism
In epistemology and in its modern sense, rationalism is "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification" . In more technical terms, it is a method or a theory "in which the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and deductive"...
. To an even greater extent than Confucius, Zhu Xi had a naturalistic world-view. His world-view contained two primary ideas: qi and li. Zhu Xi further believed that the conduct of the two of these took places according to Tai Ji.
Holding to Confucius and Mencius' conception of humanity as innately good, Zhu Xi articulated an understanding of li as the basic pattern of the universe, stating that it was by understanding these principles that one could live with li and live an exemplary life. In this sense, li according to Zhu Xi is often seen as similar to the [Dao] in Daoism or to [telos] in Platonic philosophy. Wang Yangming
Wang Yangming
Wang Yangming was a Ming Chinese idealist Neo-Confucian philosopher, official, educationist, calligraphist and general. After Zhu Xi, he is commonly regarded as the most important Neo-Confucian thinker, with interpretations of Confucianism that denied the rationalist dualism of the orthodox...
, a philosopher who opposed Zhu Xi's ideas, held that li was to be found not in the world but within oneself. Wang Yangming was thus more of an idealist with a different epistemic approach.
Sources
The philosophical concept of Li is inherently difficult to define and is easily mistranslated into various simplifications of the core idea.Many philosophers have tried to better explain it, Alan Watts
Alan Watts
Alan Wilson Watts was a British philosopher, writer, and speaker, best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Eastern philosophy for a Western audience. Born in Chislehurst, he moved to the United States in 1938 and began Zen training in New York...
being one of the prominent 21st century authors on the subject.