"li Yi Fen Shu" And "ideal Personality": An Interpretation Of The Song Dynasty Education Philosophy

In ethical perspective, LIYIFENGSHU(理-分殊) means that all people are brothers and sisters because everybody is being born by Heaven. It implies that the ruler is the oldest son of Heaven, and the sage man possesses the right virtue produced by Heaven. Everybody seems to have a different order or character, what is in fact only the same order: One basis, different shapes (理-分殊).According to the Sung Neo-Confucianist system , all objects in nature are composed of the substance of which all material things are made. The Sung Neo-Confucianist further identified the li (理) in humankind with human nature, which is essentially the same for all people. The phenomenon of particular differences can be attributed to the varying proportions and densities of the ch'i (气) found among individuals. Purity can be achieved by extending one' s knowledge of the li in each individual object. When, after much sustained effort, one has investigated and comprehended the universal li or natural law inherent in all animate and inanimate objects, one becomes a sage.The ideal personality (理想人格) is the ultimate end of Sung Neo-Confucianism, which sets the goals and objectives of education. According to the Sung Neo-Confucianist , we must realize our own way of uniting Heaven and man, TIANRENHEYI (天人合一). The Sung Neo-Confucianist system still continues the search for a way of realizing the unity of Heaven and humankind.