A Comparison Between Anaximenes’s Arche and the Wuxing in the Hongfan
Abstract
While there are numerous similarities between Chinese philosophy and Western philosophy, there are also significant differences that make them extremely distinct from each other. The views of Milesian philosopher Anaximenes and the Wuxing (五行) in pre-Qin Chinese philosophy can be taken as examples, though they are rarely compared together. In actuality, their understandings of natural substances and how air (psyche) or Qi (氣) changes between substances present a framework that is very comparable. But from these comparable frames, two different modes of functioning finally developed. As an illustration, this paper will contrast Wuxing in Hongfan (洪範) with arche in Anaximenes’s ideas. Starting with the natural materials that are present in both philosophies, this paper compares them through textual analysis. According to the definitions and orientations provided by the two philosophies, conclusions can be drawn that Wuxing emphasizes relevance and people, whereas Anaximenes concentrates on the search for the most fundamental principle and the supreme power in the universe.
References
- Kirk, G. S. and Raven, J. E. (1984). The Presocratic Philosophers. Cambridge University Press, London.
- Graham, D. W. (2003). A New Look at Anaximenes. History of Philosophy Quarterly, 20, 1-120.
- Chinese Text Project. (2023). Great Plan. https://ctext.org/shang-shu/great-plan/ens.
- Liu, C. (2019). Natural Attributes, Source of Motivation and Value Belief. Shaanxi Normal University.
- Graham, D. W. (2006). Anaximenes’ Theory of Change. In: Explaining the cosmos: The ionian tradition of scientific philosophy. Princeton University Press, Princeton, 45-82.
- Deng, X. (2006). Lecture on Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy (1). Journal of SWUPL, 9, 3-20.
- Jing, Y. (2015). On the Theory of Yin and Yang and Five Elements of Implications and Effects in Huai Nan Zi. Zhejiang Normal University.
- Gao, F. (2005). From Hongfan Wuxing to Wude Zhongshi. Journal of Hunan University of Science and Engineering, 26, 178-184.
- Wang, A. (2000). Cosmology and Political Culture in Early China. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
- Chen, J. (2012). Comparison of the Primitive of Miletus School and Chinese “Five Elements” thinking. Journal of Yichun College, 34, 10-15.