Studying On "Cheng" Of The Doctrine Of The Mean In Northern Song Dynasty

The Doctrine of the Mean is a book of Li-Ji(Book of Rites).There were some studies on it in Han Dynasty,but the Doctrine of the Mean hadn't been paid attention to scholars of the Confucianism until Tang and Song Dynasty.The development of Buddhism challenges Confucianism to ontology and the theory of human nature.First, Confucianism must complete the ontological transformation in order to flight Buddhism.The Doctrine of the Mean has a new direction for the ontological transformation of Confucianism.Second,the scholars of Buddhism study the Doctrine of the Mean to prove their doctrine is better than Confucianism.Third,the ruler's attention to the Doctrine of the Mean impelled the scholars' study.The scholars made the "Cheng" to be the essence and basically accomplished the ontological transformation of Confucianism in Northern Song Dynasty.To some extent,the development of "Cheng" reflects the building process of Confucian metaphysical system.The scope of this article will focus on the development on "Cheng" of the Doctrine of the Mean in Northern Song Dynasty.The "Cheng" in the Doctrine of the Mean first is a moral attribute,means honesty and sincerity."Cheng" can be divided into Heaven and Humanism patterns.Furthermore,"Cheng" has a mysterious tendency.The opinion of Mencius to "Cheng" of the Doctrine of the Mean is different from Xun Zi.Mencius explains Xing with Xin,and Xin(the mind) has been exaggerated unlimited.Man can achieve "Cheng" if they really want to.To Xun Zi, "Cheng" should be combined with "the doctrine of the mean",and "Cheng" is a mind bourn.In Tang Dynasty,Kong Yingda explains "Cheng" to be "Zhi Cheng".And Han Yu and Ouyang Zhan both paid attention to the Doctrine of the Mean,and they studied the theory of "Ming-Cheng".But the strong proponent of the book is Li Ao. He gave a new meaning to "Cheng" and thought it has the character of "not move" and "be quiet".The scholars who studied "Cheng" in Northern Song Dynasty consisted of Buddhist and Neo-Confucians.Buddhist Qi Song pointed the theory of "Cheng" in the Doctrine of the Mean didn't tell us the origin of all things clearly and explain why human beings have "Cheng" coming from Heaven.So the advanced Confucians knew they should answer these questions urgently.The study of Confucians to "Cheng" in Northern Song Dynasty can be divided into the following categories.First,in order to know its inward content the avant-courier of Neo-Confucianism study on the Doctrine of the Mean,such as Fan Zhongyan and Shi Jie.Second,Confucians such as Chen Xiang,Sima Guang,Fan Zuyu and Chao Shuozhi mostly maintain the views of their predecessors,so they lack of innovation in theory.Third,Zhou Dunyi,Zhang Zai and the Cheng Brothers explain newly the signification of the "Cheng".This part will be the focus of this article.It is Zhou Dunyi first explained the reason why human beings' "Cheng" character come from Heaven and initial established "Cheng" ontology.But his view of "Wu Ji" and "Be Quite" was due to the impact of Buddhism.What is more,the Heaven and humanism doesn't consist well,which is also the flaw to the theory of Zhang Zai and Shao Yong. In Shao Yong's opinion,there are Congenital Learning and Acquired Learning.Only the Congenital Learning is "Cheng".And Zhang Zai's view of "Harmony between man and nature" is not the best.The Cheng Brothers were younger than Zhou Dunyi, Shao Yong and Zhang Zai.So they had a chance to catch up with them.The Cheng Brothers made "Li" to be the essence,and they thought "Cheng" is "Li".So the "Cheng" is also the essence.The Confucian metaphysical system basically established by the Cheng Brothers.The theory of "Cheng" between Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi is slightly different.Cheng Hao thought "Cheng" is not only ontology but also cultivation effort.But Cheng Yi more often put "Cheng" as a life bourn not a cultivation effort.The students of the Cheng Brothers had an important role on the heritage of "Cheng" theory to future generations.The study of Su Shi is the fourth category.Su Shi thought the Cheng Brothers' explaining to "Cheng" is not the correct meaning of the Doctrine of the Mean.And he gave his opinion to "Cheng".Because of his oppose to the Cheng Brothers' built of "Cheng" theory,Su Shi's study of the Doctrine of the Mean indeed hindered the establishment of Confucian ontology.