Flowing Within the Text: A Discussion on He Lin’s Explanation of Zhu Xi’s Method of Intuition

Abstract

The author examines He Lin s interpretation of Zhu Xi s method of intuition from a phenomenological hermeneutical perspective and by exposing Zhu s philosophical presuppositions. In contrast with Lu Xiangshan s intuitive method, Zhu Xi s method of reading classics advocates emptying your heart and flowing with the text  and, in this spirit, explains the celebrated exhaustive investigation on the principles of things (ge wu qiong li).  Text,  according to Zhu, is therefore not an object in ordinary sense but a contextual region  or sensible pattern  that, when merged with the reader, generates meanings. Furthermore, by discussing the related doctrines of Lao Zi, Zhuang Zi, Hua-Yan Buddhism, Zhou Dunyi, and Zhu Xi s own One principle with many manifestations (li yi fen shu),  the author identifies the philosophical preconditions of Zhu s method. Based on this analysis, the author goes on to illustrate Zhu s understanding of observing potential yet unapparent pleasure, anger, sorrow and happiness  and maintaining a serious attitude (zhu jing).