The Confucian RevivalThe Confucian RevivalDuring the Song, Confucianism evolved During the Song, Confucianism evolved

into a new philosophy, Neo-into a new philosophy, Neo-Confucianism, which was characterized Confucianism, which was characterized by its metaphysics and intellectualism in by its metaphysics and intellectualism in its discourse on human nature (its discourse on human nature (xingxing), ), and humaneness (and humaneness (renren), and Principle (), and Principle (lili).).

Neo-Confucianism can be the sum of Neo-Confucianism can be the sum of what these terms stand for or one of what these terms stand for or one of themthem the Learning of the Way (the Learning of the Way (DaoxueDaoxue), and the ), and the

Learning of the Sage(s) or the Way to Learning of the Sage(s) or the Way to Sagehood, the Leaning of Principle (Sagehood, the Leaning of Principle (LixueLixue), ),

[Neo-]/[Neo-]/ConfucianismConfucianismDifferent goals

• ConfucianismConfucianismFocused on the way of Focused on the way of the sage kings or Way of the sage kings or Way of the noble person (the noble person (junzijunzi) ) as social and political as social and political leader.leader.

• Neo-ConfucianismNeo-ConfucianismAspired to a spiritual ideal of sagehood for everyone, Aspired to a spiritual ideal of sagehood for everyone, achievable by methods of cultivation taught by the Five achievable by methods of cultivation taught by the Five Masters: Zhou Dunyi, Cheng brothers, Zhang Zai, Zhu Xi Masters: Zhou Dunyi, Cheng brothers, Zhang Zai, Zhu Xi (image)(image)

Cheng (Ch’eng) Brothers: Cheng Hao (left) and Cheng Yi (Right)

“Three Friends of Cold Seasons: Pine, Bamboo, and Plum” by Zhao Mengjian, Southern Song. Shanghai Metropolitan Museum

The The Neo-Confucian AgeNeo-Confucian Age?? The perceived great importance of Neo-The perceived great importance of Neo-

Confucianism has prompted William de Bary Confucianism has prompted William de Bary to define Chinese history after the 10to define Chinese history after the 10thth century century as the as the Neo-Confucian AgeNeo-Confucian Age. .

De Bary even used the term to describe East De Bary even used the term to describe East Asia after the 13Asia after the 13thth century, given that Neo- century, given that Neo-Confucianism was introduced toConfucianism was introduced to Korea during the Yi dynasty (1392-1910), reaching Korea during the Yi dynasty (1392-1910), reaching

its peak in the 16its peak in the 16thth century, led by Yi T’oegye century, led by Yi T’oegye (1501-1570) and Yi Yugok (1536-1584)(1501-1570) and Yi Yugok (1536-1584)

Japan in the mid 13Japan in the mid 13thth century and reached its peak century and reached its peak in the 16in the 16thth century, led by Fujiwara Seika (1561- century, led by Fujiwara Seika (1561-1619), Hayashi Razan (1582-1657) and Yamasaki 1619), Hayashi Razan (1582-1657) and Yamasaki Ansai (1618-1682)Ansai (1618-1682)

If Neo-Confucianism did exert so much If Neo-Confucianism did exert so much impact, it was all because of Zhu Xi (Chu impact, it was all because of Zhu Xi (Chu His, 1130-1200), the synthesizer of Neo-His, 1130-1200), the synthesizer of Neo-Confucianism, the most influential Chinese Confucianism, the most influential Chinese philosopher/educator, second only to philosopher/educator, second only to ConfuciusConfucius

• The Five Masters whose philosophies Zhu Xi synthesized: • Zhou Dunyi (Chou Tun-

i, 1017-1073) • Shao Yong (Shao

Yung,1011-1077)• Zhang Zai (Chang Tsai,

1020-1077) • Cheng brothers:

• Cheng Yi (Ch’eng I, 1033-1107)

• Cheng Hao (Ch’eng Hao, 1032-1085)Confucius, by Ma Yuan, Southern

Song, National Palace Museum, Beijing

Zhou Dunyi: TaijiZhou Dunyi: Taiji

Known for his “Explanation of the Diagram of the Great Ultimate (or Supreme Polarity)” (Taiji tushuo)

The “Explanation” talks about the Great Ultimate (Taiji), which is a cosmogonic theory concerning the origin of all beings It represents cosmic creativity

that generate all beings And human being is its

highest manifestation

• Central theme of his Explanation:

• Integration of the metaphysical, psycho-physical, and ethical dimensions of the mind• Integration of Confucian ethics and Daoist naturalism

Zhou: Taiji and the Mind

The Great Ultimate generates The Great Ultimate generates yangyang through activity, then it through activity, then it becomes tranquil when the activity reaches its limit. Through becomes tranquil when the activity reaches its limit. Through tranquility, it generates tranquility, it generates yin….yin….– Alternation and transformation of activity and tranquility, yin and yang Alternation and transformation of activity and tranquility, yin and yang

give rise to Five Agents (Phases)give rise to Five Agents (Phases)

Zhou: “It is man alone who receives (the Five Agents) in their Zhou: “It is man alone who receives (the Five Agents) in their highest excellence, and therefore he is the most intelligent. highest excellence, and therefore he is the most intelligent. His physical form appears, and his spirit develops His physical form appears, and his spirit develops consciousness. The five moral principles of his nature consciousness. The five moral principles of his nature (humanity or (humanity or ren, ren, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faithfulness) are faithfulness) are aroused byaroused by, and , and react toreact to, the external , the external world and engage in activity; good and evil are distinguished; world and engage in activity; good and evil are distinguished; and human affairs take place.”and human affairs take place.”

Zhang Zai and Zhang Zai and RenRen Known for his Known for his “Western Inscription” “Western Inscription” ((XimingXiming) and “Correct ) and “Correct Youthful Ignorance” Youthful Ignorance” ((ZhengmengZhengmeng))

A new notion or A new notion or interpretation of interpretation of Ren,Ren, RenRen should encompass should encompass

all human beings, all human beings, Heaven and Earth—all Heaven and Earth—all should join together as should join together as though creatures of though creatures of one flesh and blood, as one flesh and blood, as appropriate to their appropriate to their kinshipkinship

All are constituent All are constituent elements of a family elements of a family systemsystem

“Yuan Lu Tu” (Monkey and Egret)

Heaven, Earth, and ManHeaven, Earth, and Man

Zhang:Zhang:““Heaven is my father and Earth is my mother, Heaven is my father and Earth is my mother,

and even such a small creature as I finds an and even such a small creature as I finds an intimate place in their midst. Therefore that intimate place in their midst. Therefore that which fills the universe I regard as my body which fills the universe I regard as my body and that which directs the universe I consider and that which directs the universe I consider as my nature. as my nature. All people are my brothers All people are my brothers and sisters, and all things are my and sisters, and all things are my companions”companions”

““Wealth, honor, blessing, and benefits are Wealth, honor, blessing, and benefits are meant for the enrichment of my life, while meant for the enrichment of my life, while poverty, humble station, and sorrow are poverty, humble station, and sorrow are meant to help me to fulfillment .”meant to help me to fulfillment .”

““In life I follow and serve [Heaven and Earth]. In life I follow and serve [Heaven and Earth]. In death, I will be at peace.”In death, I will be at peace.”

Cheng Brothers Cheng Brothers and “Principle”and “Principle”• Their philosophy is found in their Their philosophy is found in their

collected works: collected works: •Cheng Hao: “All things possess Cheng Hao: “All things possess principle”principle”• Cheng I: Cheng I: ““All things under heaven can be All things under heaven can be understood in the light of their understood in the light of their principle”principle”““Even blade of grass and every Even blade of grass and every tree possess principle and should tree possess principle and should be examined”be examined”““The principle of one thing is The principle of one thing is one with the principle of all one with the principle of all things,” ---”unity of principle and things,” ---”unity of principle and diversity of its particularizations”diversity of its particularizations”

Principle and Human FulfillmentPrinciple and Human Fulfillment

Human fulfillment Human fulfillment can be achieved by can be achieved by a combination of two a combination of two approaches:approaches: Investigation of the Investigation of the

principles in thingsprinciples in things Introspection of Introspection of

principles in the mindprinciples in the mind Two methods serve Two methods serve

this aim:this aim: Study the classics, in Study the classics, in

which key principles which key principles were expressedwere expressed

Examine one’s Examine one’s mind/heart through mind/heart through quiet sittingquiet sitting

“Ye he hua” (probably what is called “Coco magnolia” today), by anonymous, Southern Song. Shanghai Metropolitan Museum