The Chapter on Following One's Nature

Wang ChongJinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) · ChinaJun 2024

3.8

Word count: 2.7K words
Chapters: 2

Summary

This chapter focuses on the idea that human nature can be changed through guidance. Wang Chong holds that human nature is formed from the qi that carries benevolence and courage, and that "since the endowment of qi varies in thickness, nature includes both good and evil." Yet he stresses even more that a person's good or evil nature can change: "Human nature—good can turn into evil, and evil can turn into good," and "this also depends on education, not on nature alone."

Editor's review

Wang Chong's "On Original Nature" centers on the plasticity of human nature. He proposes that "since the endowment of qi varies in thickness, nature includes both good and evil," while stressing that good and evil are not fixed: "Human nature—good can turn into evil, and evil can turn into good." The key lies in education and guidance. This line of thought is strikingly tension-filled in the context of Han dynasty thought: it acknowledges innate differences in temperament yet refuses to pin human nature permanently to one's qi endowment, leaving room for later education. What readers see here is not empty talk about abstract theories of human nature but a pragmatic view of edification—acknowledging differences and valuing environment and habit. The text is short and tightly focused, making it a suitable introduction to Wang Chong's thought and Han dynasty theories of human nature; it can also be read alongside other chapters of Lunheng to observe his critical method and argumentative style. While reading, pay attention to the logical chain linking "qi—nature—education" and to how the author connects common experience with theoretical reasoning.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in ancient Chinese theories of human nature and edification
Students of Han dynasty intellectual history who need to study selected chapters of Lunheng
Readers concerned with how education and environment shape people and seeking classical reference points
Readers who enjoy short argumentative essays and are willing to follow close logical reasoning

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a systematic philosophical monograph or a complete intellectual history
Casual readers who prefer storytelling and plot-driven content
Beginners who lack patience for classical Chinese argumentative prose and need extensive annotation

Reading tips

Read the full text first, mark key terms such as "endowment of qi," "nature," and "education," and outline the author's core argument.
Read alongside other chapters of Lunheng and compare Wang Chong's argumentative methods and critical stance on different issues.
After reading, restate in your own words the reasoning behind "good can turn into evil, and evil can turn into good" to check whether you truly understand it.
If you are unfamiliar with the Han dynasty intellectual background, look up basic entries on theories of human nature before returning to a close reading of the original text.

About the publisher

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) China · Founded in 1901

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) was a private publishing and distribution house in Shanghai during the late Qing and early Republican periods, issuing traditional works by lithographic printing. Judging from the 1,194 titles in the collection, its publishing focused on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, historical reading, traditional Chinese medical texts, and canonical works, along with books on literary appreciation. Representative titles include the poetry and prose collections of Du Fu and Ouyang Xiu; historical works such as the Book of Han and Zizhi Tongjian; classical texts such as the Book of Documents and Mencius; and specialized and literary classics such as Treatise on Cold Damage and Li Sao. Its author resources cover major figures across the ages, including Du Fu, Ban Gu, Sima Guang, Zhang Zhongjing, Qu Yuan, Ouyang Xiu, and Tang Shenwei, reflecting the house's characteristic reliance on traditional scholarship and medical literature while serving general readers. Public information on its early history and operational details is limited, so no conjecture is offered here.

版权信息
卷二率性篇第八

FAQ

What is the core argument of "On Original Nature"?

The core is that human nature is malleable: Wang Chong holds that people's endowment of qi varies in thickness, so nature includes both good and evil, but good and evil are not fixed—good can turn into evil, and evil can turn into good. The key lies in later education and guidance and cannot be attributed to innate nature alone.

Do I need to read all of Lunheng before reading this chapter?

No. This chapter is relatively focused and can be read on its own. But to understand the full scope of Wang Chong's thought and his argumentative style, it is advisable to also read other chapters of Lunheng that discuss human nature, nature, and criticism of popular superstitions, so as to form a comparison.

How should "the endowment of qi varies in thickness" in the text be understood?

"Thickness" refers to differences in the qi people receive. Wang Chong uses this to explain the source of differences in human nature's good and evil, but he does not stop there; he further stresses that such differences can be changed through education, thereby avoiding classifying human nature entirely as innate destiny.

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About the author

Wang Chong Author · Chinese

Wang Chong (27–c. 97), courtesy name Zhongren, was a native of Shangyu in Kuaiji (present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang). A thinker, literary critic, and atheist of the Eastern Han, he entered the Imperial Academy in Luoyang in his youth and studied under Ban Biao; later he left office, stayed at home, and devoted himself to writing. His representative work, the eighty-five-chapter Lunheng (Balanced Inquiries), criticizes Chenwei superstition and the theory of interactions between Heaven and humanity, advocates a naturalist theory of qi, and stands as an important representative of Han-dynasty materialist thought. Wang Chong valued evidence and analysis in his writing, often developing arguments through questions and debates in a plain but sharp style. The collection holds sixty-nine of his works, including such pieces as Shizhi pian, Wenkong pian, Ziran pian, Daoxu pian, Duizuo pian, and Hanwen pian, covering philosophy, social criticism, and literary appreciation. He championed independent thinking and opposed blind submission to authority, exerting a lasting influence on later thought and literary criticism.