Wang Bi

Wang Bi (Chinese王弼/王弼, Pinyin Wáng Bì; * 226, † 249), and Fu Si (辅 嗣), was a Chinese philosopher. Wang Bi was low official in the State of Wei one of the three kingdoms. He was married and had a daughter. Wang Bi died at the age of 23.

Work

Wang Bi is one of the most important commentators of Laozi " Tao Te Ching " and the I Ching. The to his commentary accompanying text version of the Tao Te Ching was until the discovery of the Mawangdui - text in 1973 as the best preserved.

He considered himself a Confucian. With his interpretation of the Tao Te Ching in the years of the turbulent period of the Three Kingdoms he wanted to contribute to the restoration of order and create a for ideas of Confucianism matching Daoism.

His Laozi Commentary concedes nothing a comprehensive position. It is for him the highest principle ( li ) and identical to the Dao. On the one hand it is the source of being, on the other hand, it permeates the being and gives every thing its Suchness ( ran). Wang Bi so thinks nothing as such and not as a negation of being.

Guo Xiang, the most influential commentator of " Zhuangzi " is of nothingness reject this view as the source of being and both strictly separated from each other. However, he agrees with Wang Bi 's view that the Dao is the highest Nothing.