A Deep Study of Xunzi's 'Jie Pi' Chapter: On the Cognitive Foundations of the Mind—Emptiness, Unity, and Tranquility
This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the core proposition in Xunzi's 'Jie Pi' concerning the nature of cognition: 'How does man know$41 By the mind. How does the mind know$42 By being empty, unified, and tranquil.' It systematically interprets the dialectical relationship and philosophical implications of 'emptiness' (xu), 'unity' (yi), and 'tranquility' (jing) in cognition, tracing their ancient intellectual origins to reveal the systematicity and sophistication of Pre-Qin cognitive theory.
Section 2: Why Does "That One Thing" Harm "This One Thing"$19
This is a question worthy of deep contemplation.
In daily experience, we often find that when we pay attention to multiple things simultaneously, we fail at each; but when we focus entirely on one task, we often achieve the best result. This experience is the concrete manifestation of "allowing that one thing to harm this one thing."
Master Xunzi cites the Book of Songs to illustrate this principle:
"The Odes say: 'Gathering, gathering the chickweed; the basket is not filled. Alas, I recall my man, and leave it by the road.' The basket is easily filled, the chickweed is easily gathered, yet one cannot have two minds on the road." (Refers to Shi Jing, Zhou Nan, Juan Er)
This poem tells of a woman who, while gathering chickweed, misses her faraway husband. The basket is easy to fill, the chickweed is easy to gather, yet because her mind is preoccupied, she cannot even complete this simple task—she leaves the basket by the road and stops gathering.
Master Xunzi uses this example vividly to illustrate the obstruction caused by "having two minds" (er 貳) in cognition and action. The thought of her man (that one thing) hinders the task of gathering chickweed (this one thing).
This is the classic expression of "allowing that one thing to harm this one thing": the thought of the man (that one) interferes with the task of gathering chickweed (this one).