Wang Bi

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Wang Bi
王弼
Shandong Province
Died249 (aged 23)
Other namesFusi (輔嗣)
Occupation(s)Philosopher, politician
Parent (father)
Wang Bi
Hanyu Pinyin
Wáng Bì
Wade–GilesWang2 Pi4
IPA[wǎŋ pî]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationWòhng Baht
JyutpingWong4 Bat6
IPA[wɔːŋ˩ pɐt̚˨]

Wang Bi (Chinese: 王弼; 226–249), courtesy name Fusi (Chinese: 輔嗣), was a Chinese philosopher and politician. During his brief career he produced commentaries on the Tao Te Ching and I Ching which were highly influential in Chinese philosophy.[1][2]

Life

Wang Bi served as a minor bureaucrat in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. He died from an epidemic at the age of 23.[3][4]

Wang Bi's most important works are commentaries on Laozi's Tao Te Ching and the I Ching. The text of the Tao Te Ching that appeared with his commentary was widely considered the best copy of his work until the discovery of the Han-era Mawangdui texts in 1973. He was a scholar of Xuanxue.

Writings

At least three works by Wang Bi are known: a commentary on Confucius' Analects, which survives only in quotations; commentaries on the I Ching and the Tao Te Ching, which not only have survived but have greatly influenced subsequent Chinese thought on those two classics.

His commentary on the I Ching has been translated into English by Richard John Lynn, The Classic of Changes (New York: Columbia University, 1994)

Several translations into English have been made of his commentary of the Tao Te Ching:

See also

References

  1. ^ "Wang Bi". Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  2. ^ "Wang Bi". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  3. ^ Theobald, Ulrich. "Wang Bi 王弼 (www.chinaknowledge.de)". www.chinaknowledge.de. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  4. .

Works cited