Exploration Of Yang Fang’ Life And Thoughts In Southern Song Dynasty In Hezhou

Yang Fang, born in the Southern Song Dynasty in Ba Chuan, He Zhou State, was taught by Du Zheng and HuanYuan who were the disciples of one of the greatest Chinese educators Master Zhu Xi. And he became another brilliant disciple of Zhu School, known as Master Da Yang. When he was young, Yang Fang was taught literature by his father. He persevered in learning in all his life, and finally accomplished the Yang school. he was born in the age when Song and Meng were at war. The war was especially fierce in Sichuan province, which brought him a tempesttossed life. In 1241, Yang Fang was awarded as Tien Si(a person who passed all three examinations held by the government), being an official for five years. During those five years he concerned about the sufferings of the people’s livelihood, paid attention to agricultural production, and served his people practically.As a patriotic intellectual, he actively helped to defend the homeland. In Adversity, he still delighted in making friends and cultivating junior talent, energetically spreading knowledge of Zhu School. He entertained himself with books and music. His work Zixi Ji was circulated generation by generation.This paper mainly makes a comprehensive exploration in Ynag Fang’s life and his academic thoughts. Combining with the researches that scholars has done in previous, the introduction points out the main problems that exist and significances in doing such researches. And the first part gives a full-sale presentation of the Yang Fang’s life and the Yang Family, also mentioning Yang Jie who was honored as Master Little Yang by people. Master Little Yang, one of nephews of Yang Fang’s, did not manage to be an official but in academic he was consistent with his uncle. And with the guidance of his teachers, Yang Fang persevered in his academic, which had added great luster in culture of Ba Shu.The paper divides Yang’s thoughts into four main aspects in the second part. There are thoughts in research, in science, in Yi School, and in politics. In research, He in research, he pursued thoughts of sages, attached great importance in learning by mental cultivation method and preparation method, and the construction of the school. In science, he put on the neo-Confucianism "justice" as the highest specification. And he thought people should follow the rule of the universe to accomplish their self-lust. He also criticized the empty rhetoric of Buddhism, Taoism, advocated that everything should follow the rule of the universe to keep balance.Yi School had been developed in Ba Shu area in Song dynasty. Yang Fang learned Yi from HuanYuan whose thoughts was succeed. In politics, Yang Fang came up with handling the interior affairs to strengthen the country, legal policy to setting up constitution, policy to develop the Ba Shu area, and pointing out brilliant officials should be in office in basic levels.