THE METAPHYSICAL TRADITION OF THE EAST-ASIA AND ITS ACTUAL RELEVANCE

The paper deals with the three major and significant differences betwe en the Western and Eastern metaphysics are discussed: 1. One of the mo st important key word of the Western metaphysics is the form derivated from the idea or eidos, both of them designating the form from the ra tional point of view, while in the Eastern metaphysics, the form is al ways conceived in its purely phenomenal dimension. Instead of the form , the key words in the Eastern tradition are Chi (spirit) or Fei (wind ), both of them symbolizing the cause of the change, i.e. the motion. 2. The basic notion of the Western metaphysics is being (to on), so th at metaphysics stands tautologically for ontology as the science of be ing, while in the East Jao (to have, having) is the central metaphysic al notion, the metaphysics thus being tautology of Jao-lun (echontolog y as science of ''having''). 3. The Western metaphysics used to be con nected with the monotheistic religion or with the monistic naturalism - hence its henologic orientation. In turn, the metaphysics in the Eas t was being closely related to the atheisic spiritualism (e.g. Buddhis m) or to the polytheistic naturalism, as the Shintoism or animistic re ligions. The theistic Confucianism lost its original metaphysical char acter since the 14th century when it developed into humanism. In the m eantime, the Eastern metaphysics offers, according to its traditions, the way on which one may reach the peace of mind, and in this sense it is still preserving its importance for the future mankind.