Concerning the Distinction between Xing and Ming in Mengzi 7B24 Focusing on Zhu Xi's Two Interpretations

Abstract

In the latter part of Mencius 7B24, Mencius makes the distinction between ‘xing (性)’ and ‘ming (命)’. Zhao Qi interprets this ‘ming’ as ‘minglu (命祿)’, which means luck, accidental encounters, or times that one faces. On the other hand, Zhu Xi refers it to as the quality that one is endowed with. He then provides a new interpretation of ‘ming’ in the latter section. Zhu Xi’s understanding appears to be similar to Wang Chong’s theory of endowment of qi, and therefore has been criticized for not corresponding with the original text of Mencius. However, Zhu’s interpretation actually shares some important characteristics with the existing interpretation. As Zhao Qi does, Zhu also accepts accidental elements possible in life without getting into fatalism, and hence admits the existence of moral responsibility. Eventually, Zhu Xi takes a step forward to deal with the scope of luck and misfortune in life in a more comprehensive way, and at the same time discusses the problem of moral responsibility. In this way, Zhu Xi’s interpretation should be seen as a further development of Mencius’s philosophy.