Research Of Chu Hsi's Theory Of Gongfu

Gongfu was an ordinary word in Chinese.During the adopting and extending of Buddhism and Taoism in Wei and Jin Dynasty,the word Gongfu was endowed with some theoretical meanings.After Song Dynasty,Gongfu was gradually changed into a theoretical concept by Confucianism through a great amount of theoretical and systematic explanations.Through the exquisite theoretical construction by Neo-Confucianists in Song and Ming Dynasty,the concept of Gongfu was upgraded to Gongfu theory,scholars nowadays customarily call it “The theory of Gongfu”,meanwhile take this theory as one of the most important characteristics of Chinese philosophy.The philosophical category of Gongfu as opposed to noumenon started from Buddhism.Influenced by the concepts of Gongfu such as “clear mind and understanding” and “Jing” of Buddhism,Neo-Confucianists in Song and Ming Dynasty developed the Confucian Gongfu theory,and finally realized the unity of the theoretical categories of Gongfu and noumenon.Chu Hsi's Gongfu theory is both rich in content and complete in its system,which can be considered as the most integrated Gongfu theoretical system throughout the history of Song-Ming Confucianism or even Chinese Confucianism culture.To investigate the construction,theoretical c ontent of Chu His' s Gongfu theory,there's no doubt a typical significance for the overall investigation of Confucian ism Gongfu theory.As it known to all,Confucianism is the main academic form of Chinese philosophy,thus the investigation of Confucianism Gongfu theory could be a representation of the overall Chinese Gongfu theory.With the rising of Neo-Confucianism and the initial shaping of Gongfu theory in the Northern Song Dynasty,Chu Hsi went through three following development stages as “Zhong-he old theory” “Zhong-he new theory” and debating with Lu Jiu-yuan,thereupon the theoretical system of Gongfu which paid equal attention on “following the path of inquiry and study” and “honor the moral nature” by Chu Hsi was established.Chu Hsi took The Four Books as the main classical evidence,thoroughly analyzed the ideology,concept and category of Gongfu within views of righteousness.Meanwhile,Chu Hsi's ideas were based on Chou Tun-i,Chang Tsai,The Cheng brothers and Tse Liang-zuo,he inherited Cheng I's theoretical frame of “self-restraint is based on adoration and the key to advance one's learning is based on investigation of knowledge”.Furthermore,ideas and syndrome differentiation methods from Buddhism and Taoism is also part of Chu Hsi's theory,with his continuous practice and independent thinking,he constructed a Gongfu system which containing “Following the path of inquiry and study” and “Honoring the moral nature”.“Following the path of inquiry and study” refers to the practical ways for us to seek truth from the facts,which theory is based on knowledge level.Chu Hsi inherited and developed The Cheng brothers' ideas of “Genuine Knowledge”.In this theory,“knowledge” is an integrated concept which could be developed from shallow to deep.The shallow is named “Common knowledge”,the deep is named “Genuine Knowledge”.Furthermore,the deepest is named “Supreme Knowledge”,and the judgement criterion is based on whether peop le would willingly behave in accordance with the “Genuine Knowledge”.There are two ways of Gongfu for “Following the path of inquiry and study”,firstly,to start a further investigation of the world,secondly,to turn back to human nature itself to find out the noumenon of mentality.Meanwhile,“Following the path of inquiry and study” includes three aspects which are investigation,reading and self-observing.Investigation is the overall method,the unavoidable way to knowledge.Reading is the key method for investigation and self-observing is a part of investigation.“Honoring the moral nature” refers to cultivation of great minds,mainly focus on moral practical levels.Chu Hsi explained the connotation of “morality” from three aspects,which he considered as “the justice I received from heaven”.There're also two aspects of “Honoring the moral nature”,respectively are “preserve heavenly principle” and “extinguish selfish desire”.The former cultivates people's virtues and the latter restraints people's selfishness.With the co-action of both aspects,finally achieve the target of daily moral practice,hence promote the popularity of “morality” in itself.In terms of different parts and objects,“Honoring the moral nature” mainly includes cultivate noble spirit,concentration of one's own mind,be blameless in one's private life and restraint oneself and return to social ritual.The former two methods are maintenance Gongfu,the latter two are elimination Gongfu.The overall method for “Honoring the moral nature” is “Jing”,the Gongfu of “Jing” is described as “the primary meaning of Confucianism”,which has the characteristics of connecting superiority and inferiority,beginning and ending,movement and motionlessness,and contains four specific contents a s “concentration”,“keep a clear mind”,“constriction” and “neatness and seriousness”,two implementational ways as meditation and practice “Jing” in daily life.Chu Hsi's Gongfu theory is a well-established system which is profound in its inner connotation and simultaneously connecting with practice.“Following the path of inquiry and study” and “Honoring the moral nature” is not two total distinct-different part,however,the two concepts are interacting with each other,“Following the path of inquiry and study” is the precondition of “Honoring the moral nature”,“Honoring the moral nature” promotes “Following the path of inquiry and study”.The interaction between the two aspects is both in connotation and practice.On connotation,it reflects on contents of objects and sequence of procedures.On practice,it reflects on the realization of “Honoring the moral nature” during the process of “Following the path of inquiry and study”,and the gradual development of “Following the path of inquiry and study” during the process of “Honoring the moral nature”.Comparing other contemporary scholars,Chu Hsi's Gongfu theory has its own theoretical inclination,which considers knowledge pursue and moral observation are equally important,neither of them should be negl ected.Chu Hsi's inclination was reflected during the process of his academic debate with Lu Jiu-yuan.Extensive,exquisite and comprehensive are features of Chu Hsi's Gongfu theory,which brings both academic and social influence on later generations,not only motivated the development of neo-Confucianism,but also had advancing effect on the development of Gongfu theory and whole Confucianism.Meanwhile,Chu Hsi's Gongfu theory also has a long-term and deep effect on ideology and value orientation of the whole society,to some extent with practical significance.