The Study On Xu Heng's Neo-Confucianism Thought

Xu Heng was a master of Neo-Confucianism in Yuan Dynasty, and he played an important role in the spread and officialization of the Neo-Confucianism in Yuan Dynasty. Under the academic background of harmonizing of Li hsueh of Zhu Xi and Heart-ology of Lu Chiu-yuan, Neo-Confucianism in Yuan Dynasty takes on the characteristics of Li hsuen and Heart-ology. And this academic harmonizing became the main current of Neo-Confucianism in Yuan Dynasty. Under this academic background, Xu Heng contributed to the evolution and change from the Neo-Confucianism in Song Dynasty to Confucian moral philosophy in Ming Dynasty. And his effort is mainly reflected in the theory of nature and mind and the theory of practice. So the paper analyzes the two parts in detail.In the beginning, this paper analyzes the history background of Xu Heng. Then from the angles of ontology, the theory of nature and mind and the theory of practice, the paper expounds Xu Heng's thought in detail. Firstly, the paper points out that "yi" and "ming" are integral whole. They are both the manifestation of Tao. The human is the passive recipients of Tao, and the human must follow the "yi" and "ming". Secondly, in the theory of nature and mind, Xu Heng not only drew the category of original mind, but also followed the Neo-Confucianism of Zhu Xi. This made his theory take on the characteristic of Heart-ology. So the theory of "investigation of things and extension of knowledge" and the theory of "revealing original mind" could be both found in his thought. However, essentially, Xu Heng was the successor of Neo-Confucianism instead of Heart-ology. Thirdly, the characteristic of Heart-ology is also manifested in his theory of practice. It is mainly reflected in that Xu Heng followed the thought of "revealing original mind". But the original mind in his theory does not have the self-satisfaction value. So essentially, Xu Heng's theory of practice does not belong to Heart-ology.In a word, on the harmonizing of Li hsueh of Zhu Xi and Heart-ology of Lu Chiu-yuan, Xu Heng have not based a ideological system and his effort is just a beginning. But the contribution of Xu Heng is unquestionable.