Earlier I mentioned the sciences, so here let me say a bit more about “wen” and “li.”
The division between wen and li is a real situation. I do not want to erase the actual differences between theory and literature, but I do want to point out one thing: what is called “wen” — literature, writing, culture, the wen of the humanities — and what is called “li” — mathematics and the sciences, theory, ideals, principle — are in fact related at certain root levels, and were even originally one and the same.
The present division of disciplines is: humanities versus science and engineering, as if the sciences and engineering were closer to each other, inseparable. This has led to certain misunderstandings — the characteristic style people imagine of “li” is in fact originally that of “gong” (craft/engineering), and because people cannot distinguish li from gong, they mistake the characteristics of “gong” for “li.”
A typical example is people’s understanding of the temperaments of Peking University and Tsinghua University. It is often said: Peking University has a humanities style, Tsinghua has a science style. So much so that Tsinghua’s admissions publicity has to repeatedly explain every time: both the humanities and the sciences are here at Peking University, while what Tsinghua emphasizes is engineering rather than the sciences… Here, this widespread popular misunderstanding is quite revealing: whenever people speak of a style that is free and easy, unrestrained, romantic, and idealistic, they think of the “humanities”; whereas relatively proper, rigorous, rigid, cautious, and practical styles are assigned to the “sciences.” In fact, the latter styles are not so much sciences as closer to “engineering,” while the spiritual temperament of the “sciences” may well be closer to the “humanities.” Although the division of labor between humanities, sciences, and engineering at Peking University and Tsinghua was formed more by the historical circumstances of major departmental reorganizations, it still says quite a lot.
From the standpoint of historical development, wen and li are also closer to each other. I have already mentioned that, whether in China or in the West, “wen” could originally encompass all learning: literature, history, and philosophy were not separate, while science was gestated within philosophy. But what was always excluded, precisely, was the tradition of the “craftsman.” Although Aristotle’s system of the sciences left the craftsman the final seat, there is no doubt that the tradition of “gong” has always remained far removed from “wen” or “li.”
In Western languages, the root of “literature” is “writing,” while the origin of reason is “logos,” also “Word,” which shows their kinship. Both wen and li refer to expression through language. As for words like “the humanities” and “culture,” it is harder to say in Western languages, but in Chinese they both contain the character wen, so we might as well take a special look at their origins in Chinese.
The original meaning of the character 文 was “pattern” or “vein”; the modern word 文身 (“tattoo”) still preserves this original sense, while other contexts use 纹 in its place. 文 is also the 文 of “纹理” (texture, pattern). And what about 理? Why, it is the 理 of “纹理,” of course! (“Li is the pattern of the making of things. Length and shortness, largeness and smallness, squareness and roundness, hardness and brittleness, lightness and heaviness, whiteness and blackness — these are called li.” — *Han Feizi*, “Explaining Laozi”) Put simply, in terms of original etymological meaning: wen is li; li is wen.
“Tattooing one’s body” is a form of marking one’s identity, a confirmation of “li,” meaning ritual propriety. And “culture” means “to transform through wen,” that is, to educate people in learning rites and etiquette; and to know books and be reasonable is also to know books and be courteous. In the Chinese tradition, li and li (principle and ritual) are likewise mutually connected.
How exactly did these words evolve into their present meanings? If one were to invite Heidegger to tackle the subtle implications here, there would surely be much to write about, but alas my own ability is insufficient, and I cannot carry on. What I am doing here is merely offering a hint: wen and li, in some profound and originary sense, are the same thing.
February 17, 2008
Translated from the Chinese original with AI assistance. The original text is authoritative.
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