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In addition to the outer world and reality, ancient Chinese philosophers also dealt with human's thinking. In fact, knowledge played a vital role in human's discussion of the nature of the world, the relationship between things, the human nature, and the ideal character. Therefore, knowledge was the way by which human obtained truth or Tao. How did human understand the world and themselves? Chinese philosophers had discussed many issues on the topic, such as the ability of knowledge, the relationship between knowledge and the object, the structure of knowledge, the form or stage of knowledge, and the relationship between knowledge and action. The thoughts on these issues constituted a prominent feature of Chinese philosophy. We should notice the three points related to knowledge. Firstly, the thoughts on knowledge appeared as early as in Pre-Qin Time, but matured in the long history. Secondly, Chapter 5 was different from the previous chapters. Since it concerned the relationship between the subject and object, the conflict between materialism and mentalism would be evident, which happened similarly in the history of Western philosophy. Thirdly, for Confucianism, knowledge, or "Investigating things and gaining knowledge," marked the beginning of the ideal that one should possess the sage's virtue and practice the ruler's policy, as Great Learning suggested.
The source and ability of knowledge were two basic or primary questions in the theory on knowledge. The former was one side of the basic questions. It determined how knowledge was formed and discussed the essence of thinking and existence. The latter was the other side of the basic questions. It determined the ability of knowledge and discussed the unity of thinking and existence. Ancient Chinese philosophy provided answers to these questions and presented them in various concepts or ideas, such as "Knowing and not Knowing," "Mind and Object," "Name and Substance," and "Language and Meaning."
Ancient Chinese philosopher deeply considered the method to obtain knowledge or the form of knowledge. What were the methods to obtain knowledge? What were the forms of knowledge? What were the roles the forms played in knowledge? Ancient Chinese philosophers were interested in these questions.
• Investigating Things and Gaining Knowledge
In ancient Chinese philosophy, views on knowledge and action concerned the relationship between knowledge and practice, especially that between morality and practice. Obviously, this related to the Confucian ideal that one should possess the sage's virtue and practice the ruler's policy, and seemed important in Chinese philosophy. Meanwhile, the relationship between knowledge and practice constituted a prominent feature of Chinese philosophy compared with Western philosophy.
• The Foundation of Early Views on Knowledge and Action
• Word and Action, Knowledge and Practice
• Zhu Xi's View on Knowledge and Action