On the Theory of Human Nature in the Confucian Tradition: Focusing on Zhang Huang’s Theory of Nature and Qi

Abstract

Throughout the development of theories of human nature in Chinese philosophy, the debate concerning physical nature (qizhi) and innate moral nature (tianxing) constitutes a significant vein of thought. While early discourses ranged from Mencius’s metaphysical goodness to the Song Neo-Confucian dichotomy of nature and physical endowment, this paper focuses on the critical transition in the Ming Dynasty. It examines Zhang Huang, a pivotal figure in the Yangming School of Mind, who proposed that “it is acceptable to say that innate morality exists within the physical body.” By defining physical nature as the locus of innate nature, Zhang Huang attempted to unify the two within the realm of practice. The paper argues that although Zhang Huang remained constrained by the paradigm of innate knowing (liangzhi), his theoretical reconstruction bridged the gap between Wang Yangming’s subjective ontology and Liu Zongzhou’s later synthesis. Ultimately, Zhang’s work paved the way for a cultivation theory that fully grounds moral nature within physical practice.