Study On The Theory Of Moral Cultivation Founded By Zou Shou-yi

The theory of moral cultivation founded by Zou Shou-yi was formed in the mid-Ming Dynasty,at that time,the economy,politic,culture were in a state of extremely instability.He inherited the theories of the traditional Confucianism and neo-confucianism,especially theory of intuitive knowledge founded by Wang yang-ming.Zou Shou-yi studied Neo-confucianism at first,then he was taught by Wang Yang-ming,this change made him grasped the key of moral cultivation well,he inherited the features of "intuitive knowledge" that focus on inside cultivation, and argued a new theory which main contents including awe,cautious, and fear.Zou Shou-yi considered that,the conscience as the object of moral cultivation is inside one's mind and have the ability to distinguish between good and evil naturally,just because the conscience was covered by appetite,people's behavior sometimes be good and sometimes be evil. All of these characteristics of intuitive knowledge constituted the necessary and prerequisite of moral cultivation.Zou Shou-yi pointed out that,for resume the intuitive knowledge and kept it clearly,people should reduce their desire.Different from the scholars of the Neo-confucianism, Zou Shou-yi didn't stressed the mandatory of outside justice,but argued to keep awe inside.He tried to made conscience play effort on dominating object's behavior through keeping awe and self-denial.In order to make people grasped the specific features of awe,Zou Shou-yi brought forward cautious and fear as the main forms of awe,and gave them new meanings of ceaseless self-improvement at the same time.In the mid-Ming Dynasty,Neo-confucianism dominated the field of culture, the theory of intuitive knowledge founded by Wang Yang-ming was in the state of being questioned and vilified,therefore,Zou Shou-yi put importance on invoking intuitive knowledge explain the traditional Confucianism in his teaching,this made a congruity between the thought of Zhu Xi and Wang Yang-ming,thereby protected the classical status of intuitive knowledge theory.On the other side,because of the inside limitation of intuitive knowledge,some scholar's idea became more and more different,many people explained conscience according to their own understanding of mind theory,under such circumstances,Zou Shou-yi hold his teacher's theory faithfully,and made great efforts to stick up for the original intention of Wang Yang-ming.