 To Dai, principle was not abstract and transcendent: “With regard to heaven-and-earth, humanity and things, and affairs and actions, I have not heard of a principle that cannot be verbally articulated” (Dai MZZYSZ: 38). Li, as the inner texture of things (tiaoli), did not exist in the mind-heart as a metaphysical entity and was found in the midst of all things. Indeed, it could not be severed from human feelings (qing) and desires (yu). Dai differentiated between what was naturally (ziran) and what was necessarily so (biran): 