The formation, development and evolution of Neo-Confucianism
― With a focus on the doctrine of “stilling the nature”
in the Song period

doi:10.1007/s11466-009-0021-6

Front. Philos. China

2009, Vol. 4

Issue (3) : 322-342 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11466-009-0021-6

Research articles

The formation, development and evolution of Neo-Confucianism ― With a focus on the doctrine of “stilling the nature” in the Song period

ZHU Renqiu ,

Department of Philosophy, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;

Download: PDF(296 KB)
Export: BibTeX | EndNote | Reference Manager | ProCite | RefWorks

Abstract The formation of the discourse of Neo-Confucianism1 in the Song period was a result of the interactions between many social and cultural trends. In the development of the Neo-Confucian discourse, the Cheng brothers (Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi) played key roles with their charismatic thoughts and impelling personalities, while Zhu Xi pushed Neo-Confucian thought and discourse to a pinnacle with his broad knowledge and precise reasoning. In the warm discussions and debates between different schools and thoughts, the Neo-Confucian discourse proceeded towards completion and perfection, and evolved as contemporary topics and thinking modes changed. The essay argues that “ding xing 定性 (stilling the nature)” was an important Neo-Confucian topic during the Song period. The doctrine of “stilling the nature” involves much central Neo-Confucian discourse such as the definition of xing 性 (human nature), the interior and exterior aspects of human nature, nature and qing 情 (feelings, sentiments), nature and xin 心 (mind, heart), nature and ren 仁 (benevolence, humanity, humaneness) and yi 义 (righteousness), nature and shi 事 (affair) or wu 物 (thing, object), the practice of preservation and cultivation, etc. Therefore, an examination of the formation, development and evolution of Neo-Confucianism is of great importance to the study of its early history.

Keywords Song period Neo-Confucianism discourse stilling the nature discourse analysis

Issue Date: 05 September 2009

Cite this article:

ZHU Renqiu. The formation, development and evolution of Neo-Confucianism ― With a focus on the doctrine of “stilling the nature” in the Song period[J]. Front. Philos. China, 2009, 4(3): 322-342.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fpc/EN/10.1007/s11466-009-0021-6
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fpc/EN/Y2009/V4/I3/322

[1]	Yoshimi Orii. The Limits of a Confrontational Approach: Fabian Fukansai’s Critiques of Neo-Confucianism and Christianity[J]. Front. Philos. China, 2019, 14(2): 181-200.
[2]	ZHAO Dongming. Neo-Confucian Theory of Mind as a Discourse of the Infinite: The Lu-Wang School[J]. Front. Philos. China, 2015, 10(1): 75-94.
[3]	HUANG Zhuoyue. Way of Post-Confucianism: Transformation and Genealogy[J]. Front Phil Chin, 2010, 5(4): 543-559.
[4]	DING Weixiang. Taking on Proper Appearance and Putting It into Practice: Two Different Systems of Effort in Song and Ming Neo-Confucianism[J]. Front Phil Chin, 2010, 5(3): 326-351.
[5]	CAO Feng. A return to intellectual history: A new approach to pre-Qin discourse on name[J]. Front. Philos. China, 2008, 3(2): 213-228.
[6]	LIU Gang. Philosophy of information and foundation for the future Chinese philosophy of science and technology[J]. Front. Philos. China, 2007, 2(1): 95-114.
[7]	Chai Wenhua. Traditional Confucianism in modern China: Ma Yifu’s ethical thought[J]. Front. Philos. China, 2006, 1(3): 366-381.
[8]	Guo Qiyong. An exposition of Zhou Yi studies in modern Neo-Confucianism[J]. Front. Philos. China, 2006, 1(2): 185-203.

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed