A Philosophical Study On Liu Zong-zhou’s "Shen Du"

Liu Zong-zhou,who was a top man of Confucianism in late Ming Dynasty,intergrated Mind study,Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism with study of QI and broke a new path to the Study of ’Shen Du’.He had been a posthumous child when it was a very troubled time and placed in foster care with his grandfather Nan Zhou-gong and got a tough,preciseness and introverted character.There are two ills that are naturalism and enlightenment divorced from reality and wandering off into Chan Buddhism,which makes Liu Zong-zhou change his belief in Wang Yang-ming’s Mind theory three times.He believed in at the first completely,and distrustd later and remould Wang Yang-ming’s Mind theory at last.Basis on his life,character,historical background and academic origin,Liu Zong-zhou integrated the theory of Song Ming Wu Zi(Five most famous scholars of Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming)and created his own theory of Shen Du.His theory integrates the core category of Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming,which are "Xin ","Xing","Qing ","QI" and"Li ",and pushes Mind theory to a new high.The concept of "Du Ti",which is root of "Shen Du",adopts a new look for "Xin"and "Xing" theory in Song and Ming.lt bridges the gaps of "Xin","Xing ","Qing","QI","Li"and "Tai Ji" and connects the "Tian"(Heaven),"Ren"(person)and"Wu"(objects),which are all one.Eveything is unified into "Li",which is displayed by"Xin".When "Li" is into the "Xin",it is "Xing"."Xing"dominates "Xin",and when they are both into one,it is "Du Ti".When the concept of "Du Ti" is constructed,at one hand,it supports the majesty and absoluteness of "Tian Ming Zhi Xing"(heaven-endowed nature)and supervises free individual,which provides a function of moral guiding and regulation for individual who advocates freedom in modern society.On the other hand," Jin Qi Xing "(Making the heaven-endowed natured work at most)is to respect individual difference,which avails moralization for individual."Du Ti" breaknessly solves four difficult problems:(1)everthing is unified into One,which advocates monism in ontology;(2)everything is connected with "Xin";that is to say,"Xin"and "Xing" are one and "Xin" can explain "Xing",but"Xing"also can set "Xin";(3)"Du Ti" which dominates the "Xin" leads and governs everthing and directs "Zhi Shan"(supreme good),namely,"Zhi Shan" of "Xin" is probable and even inevitable and leads to the "Zhi Shan" of social community;(4)the union of embodying "Du Ti" and governing "Nian" makes the sage’s realm probable and operational,meaning that the process of breaking the cover of desire and emotion plays a role in assuaging,governing and guiding "Xin"."Du Ti" reflects the relation and harmony and guides "Xin"to good.Individual is a part of the world and can’t plough a lonely furrow,so he must co-exist with the world.A man should orient the integration of the world,but at the same time,we can’t ignore the difference,which is wisdom of combining integration with difference.Gong Fu(Sustained practice and effort)in "Shen Du" changes the idea of Mind theory and confucious.That "Xing" governs " Qing" is the fundamental idea that explores how to keep a strong tension between nature and morals restraint of social community.It respects the nature and achieves enlightenment.The fundamental characteristic of Gong Fu is to follow the call of " Du Ti".The processes that "Du Ti " appears means that "Nian" is governed and put under "Xin" administration and desire can be broken through.The processe has two different directions but the same goal of becoming a sage.Governing the "Nian" is the appearance of "Du Ti" and end in "Xin".Gong Fu is remarkable but subtle,exhaustive and perfect,so it is a integrated and rigorous way to practice.In addition,the way of thinking and methodology is the change of essential foundation of moral metaphysics and the comprehensive affirmation to probability to sage’s realm by Gong Fu of self-cultivation.The view that the most important thing is just popular sentiment is Liu Zong-zhou’s fundamental proposition of politics that "Shen Du" extend.Liu Zong-zhou praised highly the ideality of benevolent government.The idea that Ren(benevolence)can civilized world and Yi(righteousness)can guide the world to justice is basis principle of governing.The view that " Shen Du " can realize benevolent government is the metaphysical basis of political idea,the aim of which is governing by "Ren Yi".Lean and insist are the highest level of government,Liu Zong-zhou’s political idea of " Gong "(public)features Mind theory.Forgive himself,forgive everyone.lt is the basis of Mind theory and follows the principles that do not do to others what you would not have them do to you."Listening to world by world ears" is the people-oriented thought in the political idea of "Gong".Liu Zong-Zhou’s political idea has a lot of foresight and universality that transcends historical limitations and gives some enlightenment on the thought that "the world belongs to all".