理一分殊 – Chinese philosophy and culture

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lǐyī-fēnshū 理一分殊

There Is But One Li (Universal Principle), Which Exists in Diverse Forms.

作为最高范畴的“理”存在于不同事物之中或呈现为不同形态。“理一分殊”是宋明理学家对“理”的存在形式的一个重要理解。由于“理”的含义不同,“理一分殊”的意义也有所差别:其一,就万物本体或本原之“理”而言,每一事物都禀受了这个“理”。每一事物之“理”并不是分有“理”的一部分,而是禀受了“理”的全部意义。其二,就万物所遵循的普遍法则而言,普遍之“理”在具体事物之中表现为不同的原理。每一事物之“理”是普遍之“理”的具体表现。“理一”保证了世界的统一性,而“分殊”则为事物的多样性与等级秩序提供了依据。

Being a supreme domain in terms of principle, li (理) exists in different things and manifests itself in different forms. “There is but one li, which exists in diverse forms” – this is an important way in which the Song- and Ming-dynasty thinkers viewed the forms in which li exists. As li has different meanings, its one-and-diverse composition is also interpreted in different ways. First, as the origin of universe in an ontological sense, li runs through all things. The li of each thing is not a part of li, rather, it is endowed with the full meaning of li. Second, representing the universal law governing all things, the universal li expresses itself in the form of different guiding principles in specific things. The li of each thing or being is a concrete expression of the universal li. The concept of li being one and same ensures unity of the world, whereas its diversity provides the basis for multifarious things and hierarchical order.

引例 Citations:

◎万物皆有此理,理皆同出一原,但所居之位不同,则其理之用不一。(《朱子语类》卷十八)

(万物都具有这个理,万物所具之理都源自一处,但其所处的情境不同,因此理的具体运用和呈现样式就有不同。)

Li (universal principle) runs through all things, which is derived from one source. But as li is present in different things, its functions and forms vary. (Classified Conversations of Master Zhu Xi)

◎盖人物之生,受气之初,其理惟一;成形之后,其分则殊。(罗钦顺《困知记》卷上)

(人和事物在禀气初生之际,他们所具有的理是唯一的;而具有了各自的形体之后,理的具体表现又各不相同。)

When a person or thing comes into being and is endowed with qi, or vital force, he or it is governed by only one li (universal principle). However, once a person or thing gains a specific physical form, the li embodied expresses itself in different ways. (Luo Qinshun: Knowledge Painfully Acquired)

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