The Situation Of New-Confucianism In Late Song Dynasty (1208-1279)

Under the support and in high praise of the imperial court, New-Confucianism had made unprecedented progress and development in late Song Dynasty. "Confucian Orthodoxy" of Neo-Confucianism was established, and Neo-Confucianism became official dominant ideology formally as the Confucian orthodox school for the first time. At the same time, the identity of Neo-Confucianism was entrusted with the new meaning by the society too, it was not merely a kind of academic thought, more importantly was one new political-culture complex ideology.Facing a series of serious political,economic problems and other social problems, the status such as most embraces of New-Confucianism only held enlightening remark but divorced from the reality and so on, had developed more seriously. The essence of speculation philosophy which Neo-Confucianism contained almost lost. Neo-Confucianism was paraded by the persons who were in pursuit of fame, also became stepping-stone of somebody who were in pursuit of official rank. The mode of scholar-bureaucrat sustained corrupt, the stratum of scholar-bureaucrat including Neo-Confucianism universally lacked moral and sense of justice, accordingly Neo-Confucianism received criticism and condemnation from each social stratum.The awkward circumstance of New-Confucianism in late Song Dynasty was caused mainly by the loss of statecraft and practicality. In the trend of criticism to Neo-Confucianism, the voice of statecraft and practicality gradually enhanced. The status of "Confucian orthodoxy" which Neo-Confucianism established was nominal. New-Confucianism was a bad bargain to get the support and high praise at the cost of its cultural essence.