Zhang Zai's Philosophy of QI

Qu ("vital energy") is one of the most important concepts in Chinese philosophy and culture, and neo-Confucian Zhang Zai (1020-1077) played a pivotal role in developing the notion. Jung-Yeup Kim's investigation of his philosophy of qi is not confined to his particularity, but sheds light upon the notion of qi as it is understood within Chinese and East Asian thought in general. Zhang Zai's Philosophy of Qi: A Practical Understanding sets out to provide a thorough and proper understanding of Zhang Zai's philosophy of qi, focusing on the practical argument underlying his development of qi that emphasizes the endeavor to create meaningful coherence among our differences through mutual communication and transformation. In addition to this, Zhang Zai's Philosophy of Qi compares and engages Zhang Zai's philosophy of qi with John Dewey's philosophy of aesthetic experience in order to make Zhang Zai's position more plausible and relevant to the contemporary Western audience. -- from back cover.