What does "Ge Wu Qi Li" mean?

Gewu Qiuli, gewu: to investigate the truth of things; Qiuli: to pursue the ultimate truth of things, refers to the investigation of the origin and reason of things.

The concept of studying things to achieve knowledge was first put forward in the eighth chapter of "Book of Rites? Daxue". However, because "Daxue" did not make any exegesis later, and there were no pre-Qin ancient books to examine, the concept of studying things to achieve knowledge was It has become a place where the mysteries of Confucianism can be solved and hundreds of schools of thought gather for litigation.

Zheng Xuan of the Eastern Han Dynasty was the first to annotate "the study of things to achieve knowledge". Since Song Confucianism separated "The Great Learning" from the "Book of Rites" and became a part of the "Four Books", the significance of "the study of things to achieve knowledge" has gradually It became a hot topic of debate among later generations of Confucian scholars even today.

The popular interpretation in society about "studying things to achieve knowledge" is based on part of the views of Zhu Xi's theory in the Southern Song Dynasty. It is believed that "studying things to achieve knowledge" means to study things and obtain knowledge and principles.

Extended information

The mere discussion of knowledge and investigation of things is the reason why people are so poor in principles, but it does not stop people from being poor in principles and causing them to sit still and do nothing. If it is said that the principle of things is exhausted, as mentioned before, "taking care of the external and leaving the internal", then there is something unacceptable.

If a dim-witted person can carefully observe the natural principles of his mind at any time and place, so that he has a natural conscience, he will be wise even though he is stupid, and he will be strong even though he is soft. The main foundation is established to achieve the Tao, and the attributes of the nine sutras can be consistently followed without leaving anything behind. Why worry about it being of no use?

Those who are stubborn, empty and quiet are just unable to observe the natural principles of their hearts according to things, so that they abandon their natural conscience and take it as normal to be emptied and empty. Therefore, they do not want it. You can govern your family, country and world. Who says that the sage exhausts all the knowledge of reason and nature, but there are also disadvantages? ——An excerpt from "Zhuan Xilu·Zhong" in reply to Gu Dongqiao's book

Translation: What I mean by Zhizhiquwu is the so-called exhaustion of the principles of things, rather than prohibiting people from exhausting the principles of things and allowing people to deeply understand them. Sitting in the air and doing nothing. If we study the truth of things, as mentioned before, we only focus on external learning and ignore inner cultivation, that would be wrong.

If a confused person can carefully observe the natural principles of his heart in all things and discover his original conscience, then even if he is stupid, he will become smart, and even if he is weak, he will become strong. If he is able to establish a strong foundation and practice the Tao, and can cover the Nine Classics without omissions, would you still worry that he does not have the practical ability to govern the country?

Those Buddhist disciples who stubbornly insist on the emptiness of the emptiness, abandon ethics precisely because they cannot carefully observe the conscience of their hearts in all things, and regard the emptiness of the emptiness as a normal phenomenon. Naturally, they It is impossible to regulate the family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world. Who said that the sage’s theory of exhausting heaven’s principles and giving full play to human nature also has such shortcomings?

Baidu Encyclopedia-Principles of Physics