Ancient Chinese thinkers regarded nature, with human beings included in it, the world of life. All living things in the world have (they) own lives and state of being. "Life and its state of being is most (worth) of appreciation," said Cheng Hao, a Confucian scholar in the Song Dynasty, "From such appreciation, people could draw greatest spiritual delight. "
Confucian scholars in the Song and Ming Dynasties all enjoyed observing the state of being of living things. Zhou Dunyi, for example, allowed the grass (grow) in front of his window without cutting it. When he (ask) why, Zhou explained that the natural growth of grass was in line with his idea of living things. He observed the (create) of life and the state of being of living things in the world through the grass. The state of being of the grass was similar to the state of being of people, the experience of this resemblance gave him great pleasure. He felt great joy from (observe) living things. He would often appreciate the fish he kept, and enjoyed watching newly hatched chicks. To him, the lively and lovely chicks (well) represented the state of being.
