The Foundation of Early Views on Knowledge and Action

The knowledge-action issue was firstly mentioned in Zuo Zhuan and Book of Documents. In Zuo Zhuan, it was said, "To obtain knowledge is not difficult. To act is." (The Iff1' Year of the Reign of Duke of Zhao) In Book of Documents, it was said, "What's difficult is not to obtain knowledge but to act." (On the Effect of Fate) Both meant that the difficulty lied in putting knowledge into practice rather than obtaining knowledge.

In ancient China, knowledge and action were often consistent. Ancient Chinese philosophers mentioned them simultaneously. For instance, the Confucian view on knowledge and action was based on the social morality. It was common among the schools of thought that philosophers participated in social practice while considering social issues. Confucius said, "When you are at home, be filial to your parents. When you are out, be respectful to your brothers." and "When you have done this, you can learn knowledge." (The Analects, Xue Er) Here, being filial and respectful was action. To Mohism, production was the most important in the knowledge-action issue. Mo Zi said: "One who participates in production can survive, vice versa." (Mo Zi, On Denying Music T) In other words, Mohism viewed production as the most basic way of action. In spite that Confucianism and Mohism held different views on knowledge and action, they both valued knowledge and action, especially the latter. In Confucianism, there were "Knowledge, Action, Faith, and Honesty." (Si Jiao) (The Analects, Xue Er) In Mohism, there was "Knowledge through hearing, seeing, and practicing." (The Book of Mo Zi, Canon I) Here, both Confucianism and Mohism united knowledge and action and noted the importance of action or practice. Confucianism and Mohism's views on knowledge and action were widely accepted by philosophers. Xun Zi viewed action as the highest level of knowledge: "To practice is better than to know; to know is better than to see; to see is better than to hear. The final stage of learning is to practice." (Xun Zi, The Role of Confucianist) Meantime, ancient Chinese philosophers noted two questions. Firstly, knowledge and action happen repeatedly. Confucius said, "Is it a pleasant thing one reviews what he have learnt?" (The Analects, Xue Er) Wang Chong said, "In Qi prefecture, people embroidered for generations and no woman could not. In Xiang prefecture, people brocaded for many years and the clumsy woman could. They saw and did day by day and became skillful."(Cr/h"ca/ Essays, Cheng Cai) Secondly, action could test knowledge. Han Fei said, "To test him with official post and performance," and "A prime minister starts from prefecture and a general starts from soldier." (Han Fei Zi, On Confucianism and Mohism)