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Neoconfucianism
Renewal of Confucianism Occurring in the Song dynasty
Dàoxué – (道學 ) teachings of Dao Dàotong – (道统 ) transmission of Dao
Four Classics The ‘Analects’ ( 論語 , Lún Yǔ,) the ‘Great Learning’ ( 大學 , Dà Xué,) the ‘Doctrine of the Mean’ ( 中庸 , Zhōng
Yōng,) and the ‘Mencius’ (孟子 , Mèngzĭ.)
Cosmology Classic of Changes (易經 , Yijīng)
In the Yi there is the Supreme Ultimate (taiji) which produces the Two Forms.
[Appendix III (The Great Appendix)]
Cosmology Yin wet, dark, weak, female, … Yang dry, light, strong, male, …
Cosmology One Principle, Many Manifestations
(理一分属 , liyi fenshu)
Cosmology Zhou Dunyi (周敦頤 , 1017-1073)
‘Diagram of the Supreme Ultimate’ Movement yang Quiet yin
Identify Taiji (太极 ) and Wuji (无极 ) Actuality and Possibility
Recommends Quiescence Wuyu (无欲 ) – No Desires Cheng ( 诚 ) - Sincerity
Cosmology Shao Yong
The hexagrams represent the combination of yin-yang Each line is a dynamic possibility of yin-yang
The bā guà (八卦 )
Cosmology Zhang Zai (張載 , 1020-1077)
Qi (氣 ) is material force Qi is the Supreme Ultimate, Great Vacuity or Harmony Everything is made of Qi – including people
We are all brothers So love each other appropriately
We have an original nature corrupted by the world It’s a sage’s job to remove corruptions Education can do this
Cosmology Brothers Cheng
Cheng Yi Study of Principles,
(理學 , lǐxué) Cheng Hao Study of Mind
(心学 , xinxué)
Principles Cheng Yi (程頤 , 1033–1107 )
Movement of qi produces variety – how?
Principles Cheng Yi (程頤 , 1033–1107 )
Movement of qi produces variety – how?
Principles Cheng Yi (程頤 , 1033–1107 )
Movement of qi produces variety – how? There is a principle that guides qi
prior to things Independent of Yin-Yang
Zhu Xi 朱熹 1130-1200 Study of Principles
Everything has an ultimate, which is the ultimate li. That which unites and embraces the li of heaven, earth, and all things is the Supreme Ultimate
Zhu Xi Everything is explained by
Its proper principle Its material power (qi) Its norm / mandate of heaven / supreme ultimate
Zhu Xi People are explained by
dispositional principles (they form a li) their material power (qi) their norm: xin = mind-heart
Zhu Xi A person aims to achieve their norm
This will result in an harmonious person
People must learn to see principles The world is made of principles
Study the world (格物 , géwù) Intense study will produce sudden enlightenment
Mind Lu Jiuyuan (陸九淵 , 1139-1192 )
Opposed gewu
The ten thousand things are already complete in us. It is only necessary to apprehend their principle
Mind Lu Jiuyuan (陸九淵 , 1139-1192 )
Opposed gewu Proposed an idealism
The universe is my mind, and my mind is the universe
Wang Yangming 王阳明 1472-1529 Study of Mind
Wang Yangming xin = taiji Distinguish
mind-in-itself (xin zhi benti) as a norm human-mind (ren xin) as the corrupt actuality
Strive to make the actuality like the norm
Wang Yangming Innate knowing (liangzhi)
Original mind is Actual mind with things removed
All the people filling the street are sages
Wang Yangming The mind is the world
It is “that toward which the mind is turned”
Wang Yangming Action and knowledge are united
知行合一 , Zhixing heyi Action and knowledge are aspects of the same
constitutive principle Can’t have one without the other
Knowledge is the beginning of action and action is the completion of knowledge