Abstract: In his later years,Fei Xiaotong advocated the subject of spiritual world in sociological research. His position emphasized the humanistic aspect of sociology and suggested the importance of understanding our mind through locating the root of our traditional intellectual sources. This study takes Wang Wei,a poet during the peak period of the Tang,as an example typifying the dilemma common to the Chinese literati (Shi) between serving in office and retreating from it. Wang's life,his poems and his exchanges with fellow poets are discussed against the background of his time and the contradiction in the poet's spiritual world is explored. Wang's poems and his personal correspondences reflect the social changes,intellectual trends as well as individual life of his days. They touch spheres of social communication,natural landscape and spiritual Buddhism and Taoism,and all together constitute a life universe that integrates nature and humanity,upon which the spiritual balance between active participation and a life of withdrawal depends. In other words,spiritual sufferings are an indication of the absence of such a life universe. This study also suggests that an appreciation of customs and mores of the time and an ability to relive and understand their life are the key to comprehend the spiritual world of the Chinese traditional scholars.

Key words: Wang Wei, spiritual world, life-universe, heart-to-heart understanding, sociological humanities