An Inquiry of WANG Tingxiang's Philosophy of Qi —With Considerations of the Characteristics of the Theory of Qi in Chinese Classical Philosophy

Zhang Zai exceeded partly the four defects of the Chinese classical theory of Qi. Following in ZHANG Zai's footsteps, WANG Ting xiang held a theory of Qi which fell into a stage of standstill or even retroversion. The development mode of advance standstill retroversion in Chinese philosophy found full expressions in Chinese classical theory of Qi. Before YAN Fu's reconstruction of the traditional concepts of Chinese philosophy by following the principles of western philosophy and logic, there existed no “pure concept”, in Hegel's sense, in Chinese history of philosophy, but only “pre philosophical concepts”.