How can Zhu Xi’s Resources Contribute to the Feminist Progressive Project? A Reflection on the Study of Zhu Xi’s Theory of Kun Way-Making

In Zhu Xi’s theory of cultivation, kun way-making (kun-dao坤道) to cultivate the virtue of kun (kun-de 坤德) goes ahead to qian way-making (qian-dao乾道), in which the virtue of qian (qian-de 乾德) is cultivated. In this theory, everyone is encouraged to cultivate kun way-making, which it happens that women represent. It is worth noting that the theory faces an issue of potential inconsistency between the “gendered” construction of qian-kun 乾坤 and the positive absence (kong-que空闕), the pivot of the cultivating process, where the renegotiation of the virtues of qian-kun is attuned to optimal appropriateness (yi 義) with her wisdom (zhi 智) at the endless end of kun way-making. The distinction of qian-kun in the whole cultivating process preempts the participation of kun way-making in symbolizing both virtues; however, the symbolization is continuously renegotiated in kun way-making, where the equity of qian-kun is founded on her careful and flexible quan 權 in the positive absence. If the inconsistency is recognized in Zhu Xi’s theory of cultivation, then it becomes weak. But if his theory could be reflected from a progressive viewpoint, it may pose a potentially feminist critique of the dichotomy of qian-kun and propose instead an equity of qian-kun through quan in kun way-making. Therefore, it is an open question how Zhu Xi’s resources can contribute to the feminist progressive project.