From Mandate of Heaven to Mission: Semantic Rupture and Subject Reconstruction in Pre-Qin Theories of "Ming"
This article deeply analyzes the semantic fission of the character "ming" (命) in pre-Qin thought, tracing its evolution from divine mandate and innate nature to an active mission, demonstrating that it was not passive fatalism but rather proactive assumption of responsibility beyond cognitive horizons. By re-examining core propositions like Confucius's "knowing the mandate of Heaven," the study reveals the dynamic relationship of Heaven-human interaction in pre-Qin philosophy, showcasing the robust subjectivity and sense of mission within traditional Chinese culture.
Section 3: "Doing Good without Seeking Fame, Doing Evil without Approaching Punishment" (为善无近名，为恶无近刑) - Zhuangzi's "Following the Middle Way as a Constant" (缘督以为经)
The opening of the Zhuangzi, "Yang Sheng Zhu," states:
"My life is finite, but knowledge is infinite. To pursue the infinite with the finite is exhausting! If, after exhausting oneself, one still claims to be knowledgeable, it is merely exhausting oneself. Doing good without seeking fame, doing evil without approaching punishment, following the middle way as a constant—this can preserve the body, it can fulfill life, it can nourish kin, it can complete the years."(《庄子·养生主》)(吾生也有涯，而知也无涯。以有涯随无涯，殆已！已而为知者，殆而已矣。为善无近名，为恶无近刑，缘督以为经，可以保身，可以全生，可以养亲，可以尽年。 Wu sheng ye you ya, er zhi ye wu ya. Yi you ya sui wu ya, dai yi! Yi er wei zhi zhe, dai er yi yi. Wei shan wu jin ming, wei e wu jin xing, yuan du yi wei jing, ke yi bao shen, ke yi quan sheng, ke yi yang qin, ke yi jin nian.)
My life is finite, but knowledge is infinite. To pursue the infinite with the finite is exhausting! If, after exhausting oneself, one still claims to be knowledgeable, it is merely exhausting oneself. Doing good without seeking fame, doing evil without approaching punishment, following the middle way as a constant—this can preserve the body, it can fulfill life, it can nourish kin, it can complete the years.
This passage is often misinterpreted as a passive "wise self-preservation." But upon closer examination, Zhuangzi's core argument is: Life is finite—this is the boundary of "ming"; how to fulfill life and complete the years within finitude—this is the active response to fate.
"Following the middle way as a constant" (缘督以为经, yuan du yi wei jing)—acting along the middle path. This is not doing nothing, but choosing the most appropriate way to live this life after recognizing that life is finite. This deeply resonates with Confucius's "knowing Heaven's mandate": after recognizing the boundaries of existence, not giving up action, but choosing the action that is most in accordance with the Way.