Mao Collection, Upper Volume
Radical: Heart (xīn)
Character: xìng
Kangxi stroke count: 9
Page 381, Entry 24
Tang Rhymes (Tangyun), Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), Rhyme Meetings (Yunhui), Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun): Pronounced xìng.
Doctrine of the Mean (Zhongyong) states: What is conferred by Heaven is called nature. Commentary: Nature refers to the inherent essence bestowed by nature.
Classic of Filial Piety (Xiaojing) says: Nature is the essence of life. Just as the nature of wood is benevolence, the nature of metal is righteousness, the nature of fire is ritual, the nature of water is wisdom, and the nature of earth is trustworthiness.
Also, General Treatises (Tonglun) says: Nature is life.
Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Earth Officer, Grand Minister of Instruction (Da situ) records: Use the method of calculating land tributes to distinguish the plants and animals produced by the five types of soil. Du Zichun read the character for life as nature.
Jia Commentary (Jia Shu): Nature is also interpreted as life. Since the meaning is the same, later scholars like Zheng Xuan did not change it.
Also, in the commentary to the Mo Li (He Li), it is said: To not give birth. Liu Changzong provides the pronunciation as sè jìng.
It also refers to acting naturally without conscious effort, called acting by nature.
Mencius (Mengzi) says: Yao and Shun acted by their nature.
It is also used for surnames.
Also, Collected Rhymes (Jiyun): Pronounced shèng. Refers to a rapid heartbeat or palpitations.
Commentary says: The character for nature is composed of the characters for life and heart, meaning that since birth, the heart possesses this heavenly principle, which is what is called nature.
Textual verification: Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Earth Officer, Grand Minister of Instruction (Da situ): By the method of land calculation, distinguish the living things of the five types of soil. Du Zichun read life as nature. Explanation of Texts (Shiwen): Nature is also interpreted as life. Following the original text of the Rites of Zhou, the reference to Explanation of Texts has been corrected to Jia Commentary.
