THE THEISTIC IMPORT OF THE SUNG PHILOSOPHY 1 L7 



These are the four ethical priciples which constitute the 

 moral Order of the Universe. A careful study of their inter- 

 pretation, both in the Yi Ching and in the writings of the 

 Sung School will justify the translation of them respectively 

 as the Principle of Origin, the Principle of Beauty, * the 

 Principle of Utility, and the Principle of Potentiality, f 

 Within the limits of this article, however, it will not be 

 possible to do more than briefly to indicate their import. 



The first of these Four Ultimata, if we may call them so, 

 is Yuan [ 7G 1, the Principle of Origin, the meaning of which 

 is thus explained by Chu Hsi. "Yuan is the beginning of 

 the production of things by Heaven and Earth. The Yi says, 

 'Great is Yuan indicated by Ch'ien! All things owe to it 

 their beginning.' 'Perfect is Yuan indicated by K'un! All 

 things owe to it their birth.' From this we learn that Yuan 

 is the thread running through all stages in the production of 

 things by Heaven and Earth. Yuan is the Vital Impulse; J 

 in Heng it becomes the development of the Vital Impulse; 

 in Li it is its fruitage ; and in Cheng its completion. ' ' § 



In another connection we are told: "Love is the life- 

 producing mind of Heaven and Earth which is received by 

 all men as their mind. Its substance pervades heaven and 

 earth and unites all things in the universe; its principle 

 includes the Four Terminals || and unifies all goodness. It is 

 what is called the Principle of Origin of Ch'ien and K'un. 

 From its transforming and nurturing influence, its mildness 

 and purity, its simplicity and liberality, its reproductive life 

 and deathlessness, it is termed Love.". IF 



The passages quoted clearly teach that Yuan, the 

 Principle of Origin pervading the physical universe, and 

 Love, the premier virtue in man, are identical; and that it 

 is to this Principle of Origin, or Love, that all things owe 

 their beginning. But that is not all. Not only do all things 

 physical owe their beginning to this principle, but all four 

 principles are wrapped up in this one. We see it in the 

 case of the cardinal virtues in man, and we see it in the 

 material universe as exemplified in the progress of the 

 seasons. "Love permeates and unites all the four. For 



* Or of Development. See below. 



t Or of Unerring Efficiency. See below. 



XSlM- §**&», Bk. XLVII, f. 14. 



|| Or the Four Principles. They are the feelings of Commiseration, 

 etc., mentioned by Mencius, and regarded as the operation of the 

 four principles, Love, Righteonsness, Reverence and Wisdom, cL 

 Legge's Chinese Classics, Vol. I, pp. 78-9. 



1i <fc 3- & m , Bk. XLVII, f . 39. 



