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The Role of Change in Xiong Shili’s Understanding of Ti and Yong

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Abstract

During the 1950s Xiong Shili’s 熊十力 (1885–1968) ti-yong metaphysics underwent some profound changes. Focussing on his 1958 publication, Tiyong lun 體用論 (Treatise on reality and function), this paper seeks to explain the role that the concept of change played in the articulation of his core metaphysical tenet, “the non-duality of ti and yong” (體用不二). It will further propose that this understanding of the role of change also served as his mature solution to the Buddhist problematic of avoiding the two extremes (二見、二邊) of reification and nihilism, which Xiong characterizes in terms of believing either that things endure over time (continua) or that things cease to exist.

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Notes

  1. Text in round brackets is Xiong’s interlinear autocommentary.

  2. More precisely, for Xiong the Emptiness School consists of teachings on emptiness (空) as expounded in the Da boreboluomiduo jing 大般若波羅蜜多經 (Mahāprajñāpāramitā-sūtra; Perfection of wisdom sutras) and texts associated specifically with the Madhyamaka School.

  3. The Book of Transformation is the Book of Change (易經).

  4. Author of Mūla-madhyamaka-kārikā (Fundamental verses on the middle way), translated as Zhong lun 中論 (Treatise on the middle way), a key text in the Madhyamaka School.

  5. On the Indian doctrinal context for the idea that unconditioned dharmas are not active in producing an effect, that they lack generative activity, see Cox 2004.

  6. Fourth century Indian Yogācāra master, traditionally regarded as a founder of the school.

  7. I am grateful to Sang Yu 桑雨 for drawing my attention to this passage.

  8. Here Xiong treats xingti 性體 as equivalent to nirvāṇa and dharma nature

  9. In the Treatise it is identified as the arising and ceasing mind.

  10. See, for example, Xiong (1945) 2001: vol. 3, 572–573.

  11. Opposing its true nature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

    John Makeham

  2. The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

    John Makeham

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  1. John Makeham
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Makeham, J. The Role of Change in Xiong Shili’s Understanding of Ti and Yong. Journal East Asian Philosophy 1, 1–13 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43493-021-00006-5

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