The Eightfold Meaning and Logic of"Taiji"by Zhu Zi
Most of the academic discussions about Zhu Zi's Taiji theory are focused on the differences between Zhu and Lu in their attitudes towards"Taiji is reason",the multiple meanings and logical complications of which,however,have hardly been studied by any people.In fact,it was in debates with Zhang and Lu that Zhu Zi affirmed the basic meaning of"Taiji is reason".Besides this basic meaning,Taiji is also the ultimate principle,referring to the principle of Qi generation,just as Aristotle's formal cause;Taiji is the motivating force,referring to the ultimate moving power of Qi generation,just as Aristotle's motive force;Taiji is Qi,referring to the basic material of all things,just as Aristotle's material cause;Taiji is the principle of mind,referring to the mind or benevolence of all things generated by heaven and earth,just as Aristotle's teleological cause.To talk about the becoming,changing,turning,and moving of the whole universe,it is necessary to consider the intentions on the material,the order,the motivation,and the purpose for generating all things.These four factors constitute the logical interlinks within Zhu Zi's Taiji theory.The multiple meanings of Zhu Zi's Taiji witness both a faithful inheritance and a comprehensive innovation of the Taiji theory of Han and Song Dyansties,and have exerted a great influence on discourses about the universe in Neo-confucian ontology.
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