Zhu Xi

Zhu Xi (xī) (October 18, 1130 - April 23, 1200), whose courtesy name was Yuanhui and whose first name was Zhonghui, was named Hui'an and Kaoting. He was later called Huiweng. He was also known as Mr. Ziyang, Master Ziyang, Cangzhou sick old man, and Yungu old man. Ji Yan, posthumous title, also known as Zhu Wengong, was born in Wuyuan County, Huizhou, Jiangnan East Road (now Wuyuan County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province), and in Youxi County, Jianzhou, South Road, Fujian Province (now Youxi County, Sanming City, Fujian Province). He was a Neo-Confucian of the Southern Song Dynasty. He was the master of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, and scholars respectfully called him Zhu Zi. Zhu Xi came from a poor family but was smart since he was a child. He was a Jinshi in the 18th year of Shaoxing (1148) when he was only 19 years old. He lived in the four dynasties of Gaozong, Xiaozong, Guangzong and Ningzong. In Yungu, Jianyang, the thatched cottage was named "Hui'an", where he taught lectures. Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty gave it the name "Kaoting Academy", which is now known as the "Kaoting School". Since Zhu Xi was also nicknamed "Ziyang", it is now known as the "Ziyang School". Zhu Xi was a student of Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi's third disciple Li Tong. He inherited the theories of Zhou Dunyi and Er Cheng in the Northern Song Dynasty, established the style of studying philosophy in the Song Dynasty, and formed Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism. He wrote many books, and compiled "The Great Learning", "The Doctrine of the Mean", "The Analects of Confucius" and "Mencius" into four books as textbooks, which also became subjects for future generations' imperial examinations. In mainland China, some experts believe that he established a complete system of objective idealism.