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 5: "Knowledge" and "Folly" in Ancient Mythology
Ancient mythology contains numerous stories about "Knowledge" (Zhi) and "Folly" (Yu), reflecting the common people’s simple reflections on cognition.
The Story of Gun and Yu Managing the Flood:
Master Gun tried to manage the flood by damming it, which failed. Master Yu changed the method to dredging and channeling, finally succeeding.
From a cognitive perspective, Master Gun failed because he was "obscured" (bi) by his existing method (damming) and failed to see the alternative possibility (channeling). This is "allowing what is already stored to harm what is about to be received."
Master Yu succeeded because he broke through the fixed mindset, observed the nature of water with an open mind, and found a method consistent with water’s nature. This is "Emptiness"—not allowing existing knowledge to limit the exploration of new possibilities.
The Story of Hou Yi Shooting the Suns:
As noted before, the key to Master Hou Yi shooting the ten suns was "Singularity"—absolute concentration on a single target with every shot. This story vividly illustrates the importance of "Singularity" in a specific skill.
The Story of the Yellow Emperor Fighting Chiyou:
Shan Hai Jing, Da Huang Bei Jing records: "Chiyou raised troops to attack the Yellow Emperor. The Yellow Emperor ordered Yinglong to attack him on the plains of Jizhou. Yinglong gathered water. Chiyou called upon the Lord of Wind and the Master of Rain to unleash great winds and rain. The Yellow Emperor then summoned the heavenly maiden Ba, and the rain stopped, after which Chiyou was killed."
In this story, Master Chiyou uses the Lords of Wind and Rain to create storms to interfere with the battlefield—this is creating "Obscuration" (adverse external conditions obscuring vision and action). The Yellow Emperor summons the maiden Ba to stop the rain—this is "Dispelling Obscuration" (removing interference to restore clear perception and action).
From a cognitive perspective, this myth symbolizes a profound truth: in the battlefield of cognition, the contest between creating obscuration and dispelling obscuration is eternal. Those who can remove obscurations and maintain clarity will ultimately prevail.