Wang Ting-Xiang was a scholar who was also a philosopher, writer, and Confucian Classics researcher in Ming Dynasty. Current scholars often focus on his Chi theory. In fact, Wang Ting-Xiang served as many government officials. Most of his studies concerned about statecraft and his special academic point of view, which is well worth conducting further research. This article begins with Wang Ting-Xiang's thoughts and literature, and focuses on how Wang Ting-Xiang implemented the theory of Chi.
Wang Ting-Xiang inherited the concept of “everything is Chi” from Zhang Zai. However, Zhang Zai paid more attention on Neo-Confucianism and emphasized on “Neo-Confucianism in the air.” On the other hand, Wang Ting-Xiang focused on Chi which emphasized on the Neo-Confucianism is on the air, and can not to be the origin of all things. In Wang’s theory, everything is composed by Chi in the phenomenal world. When Chi condensed to crystallization, Wang Ting-Xiang called it “seed of Chi.” Wang Ting-Xiang also advocated that the condensation of Yin-Yang would turn to “Fire and Water, Earth, Metal and Wood” which was a new sequence of Five Elements, and then the world would be generated. Chi has its own law. The regulation of Yin-Yang is that “Yin is invisible, while Yang is visible”, ”Yin follows Yang”, “Yin-Yang is like the two sides of the same coin”. The regulation that “exists in physical objects of Chi should be preemptive opportunities”. Also, the regulation that “exist in nonphysical existences of Chi should be spiritual effects”. The preemptive opportunities combine with spiritual effects can be the one. This is the special Chi viewpoint of Wang Ting-Xiang's theory.
How to practice the theory of Chi in all life fields is the key to practical study of Wang Ting-Xiang. Wang Ting-Xiang thought that the key point is learning. When learning reaches to “the skilled realm which is almost like Dao”, it could be like “the seed of Chi.” It is same with condensability to crystallization that reach “one principle which runs through it all”. Therefore, Wang Ting-Xiang emphasized “conciseness” that is in the aspect of keeping things “simple,” which is also included economic and political parts. The key to “conciseness” is about “satisfaction.” Hence, he declared that politicians must “clean mind.” When it comes to the subject of health preservation, he thought people should “think less”. Wang Ting-Xiang prosed his own theory like “taking preemptive opportunities” and “reacting current situation.” He attempted to solve the problems in advance. Finally, Wang Ting-Xiang established an ethics system which implemented his doctrine of “Sageliness Within, Kingliness Without.”