The Study Of Lu Shiyi’s Neo-Confucianism

The previous research works on Lu Shiyi’s Neo-Confucianism revealed the characteristics of his Zhu Xi doctrine with realistic thinking mostly using the method of thought history.In this article,the author will mainly adopt the method of philosophical history to study Lu Shiyi’s theory of Li and Chi,the theory of mind and human nature and the theory of self-cultivation,and try to reveal innovative ideas in his theoretical system of Neo-Confucianism.Lu Shiyi gave a new explanation to Zhu Xi’s theory of Li and Chi,which has been criticized for its contradictions after the death of Zhu Xi.Lu Shiyi held that Li precedes Chi in the sense of metaphysics,and Li is in the Chi in the sense of physics.It not only safeguarded the legality of Zhu Xi’s theory of Li and Chi,but also provided an ideological basis for his theory of mind and humane nature.Lu Shiyi distinguished the proposition of Unity in Diversity from the propositions of Same Li and Different Chi and One origin has various manifestations,made Unity in Diversity become an important ideological method of the theory of mind and humane,the theory of mind and human nature,as well as the theory of self-cultivation.Zhu Xi insisted that the goodness of human nature comes from the Nature Conferred by Heaven,and the evil of human nature comes from Physical Nature.Unlike Zhu Xi,Lu Shiyi held that the goodness of human nature is caused by the difference in Physical Nature.Lu Shiyi’s theory of human nature is not a criticism of Zhu Xi’s theory of human nature,but provided a new argument for the theory of goodness of human nature in Confucianism.His actual critical object is the theory of human nature of Yangming School in the Late Ming Dynasty.Lu Shiyi’s new insights on the theory of human nature are actually the solidarity and support for Zhu Xi’s theory of human nature.On the self-cultivation theory,in response to the shortcomings of Yangming School’s cultivation theory,Lu Shiyi established a self-cultivation theory system with Abidance in Reverence and Exhaustive Study of Principle as the core,Abidance in Reverence as the starting point and Sincerity as the end point or goal.Lu Shiyi’s thought of Abidance in Reverence,inheriting and developing Cheng Yi and Zhu Xi’s thought,not only emphasizes the role of internal self-discipline,but also emphasizes the value of external law.His theory of Investigating Things to Extend Knowledge,emphasizing the exploration of the objective world and natural knowledge,has important value.It is an important ideological feature of Lu Shiyi’s self-cultivation theory to strive to make the Cheng-Zhu School and the Lu-Wang School’s thoughts harmonized and without conflict.The most fundamental purpose of his self-cultivation theory is to restore the ideological,cultural,moral,ethical,and political order that was destroyed during the Ming and Qing dynasties.Lu Shiyi’s Neo-Confucianism thoughts had a great influence on later generations.His position in the history of academic thought in the early Qing Dynasty was concentrated in the inheritance of Yan-Li School on Lu Shiyi’s theory of human nature and self-cultivation.Lu Shiyi’s open attitude towards Western natural science and the importance of natural science knowledge had affected a group of important scholars such as Tang Wenzhi in the late Qing Dynasty.His emphasis on the idea of putting knowledge to practical use to society had influenced Gu Yanwu of the same generation,Zeng Guofan,Hu Linyi,Zuo Zongtang in the middle and late Qing Dynasty,and even the modern Neo-Confucian Liang Shu,who later devoted himself to rural construction.