气质之性

这一术语指“气”赋予或影响人的本性，与“天命之性”或“天地之性”相对。“气质之性”包含两种不同的含义：其一，指“气”赋予人的禀性，如刚柔、缓急、贤愚等性格或品格。这个意义上的“气质之性”与“天命之性”共同构成人与生俱来的本性。其二，指“天理”与“气”共同影响的人性。“天理”落入有形的身体之中，就会受到“气”的影响。“天理”所赋予的道德本性与身体的欲求交错在一起，即是“气质之性”。

Character Endowed by Qi

The moral characters of humans endowed or influenced by qi stand in contrast with "characters endowed by Heaven" or "characters endowed by Heaven and Earth". The term encompasses two meanings. First, it refers to the specific disposition of a person under the influence of qi, such as firmness and gentleness, patience and impatience, and wisdom and stupidity. In this sense, the "character endowed by qi" and the "character endowed by Heaven" together constitute a person's inborn character. Second, it means that heavenly laws and qi together influence a person's character. As heavenly laws are imbedded in the physical human body, they are influenced by qi. The interaction of moral characters endowed by heavenly laws and human desires reflects the "character endowed by qi (vital force)".

引例形而后有气质之性，善反之则天地之性存焉。（张载《正蒙·诚明》）（人有了具体的形体之后，就有了清浊不同、善恶混杂的具体的气质与性格，如果善于通过学习和修养来历练和变化这种“气质之性”，就可以恢复和延续纯粹与至善的“天地之性”。）

Physical matters take up their shape which acquires the nature of qi (vital force); if we are thus good at returning to it, then the nature endowed by heaven and earth will be preserved. (Zhang Zai: Enlightenment Through Confucian Teachings)