Good Confucianism book (pdf) - Department of Physics

Neo-Confucianism 165principle that does not depend on the particulars of this son and this father.Everything, no matter whether it is an object, an action, or a situation, hasa principle. All events, affairs, and things, like a rose, the relationship ofparents and children, the invasion of China during the Northern Song, andso on, have a principle. There are principles that make things the thingsthat they are and there are principles that make historical events, familyrelationships, and the actions of government what they are.Principle is found in all things. Although we say principle is “ within ”all things, this does not mean that you can take apart a rose and find the“ piece ” of principle. Principle is abstract and does not exist physically“ inside ” the rose. Principle is “ in ” all things and all things can be understoodonce one understands their principle. For example, the principle inhuman beings is human nature, what it is that makes us human beings.Working with principle is qi , the material by which things are produced.Principle may give the tree its “ tree - ness ” or a human being a humannature, but there has to be material as well. The material is qi . Whereverthere is qi , principle is present; without qi , principle would have no way tomanifest, or show, itself.Through thought and study, one can begin to understand the principleof one thing and then another, finally moving to the realization of principleitself. This realization is sagehood. It is the understanding that all things inthe universe are, as Mencius said, “ complete within me. ” The way to do thisis to rid the mind of desires and to control the emotions. The mind mustbecome serious, sincere, controlled, and balanced. The mind, and how tochange its habits, then became central to the discourse and Neo - Confuciansbegan to focus on the inward side of the self.All of these ideas – the Supreme Ultimate, the roles of principle and ofqi , the idea of investigating things and extending knowledge, showing thatBuddhists are incorrect in saying the world is an illusion, controlling andbalancing the mind – are brought together by the most famous of the Neo -Confucians, the great systematizer, Zhu Xi.Zhu Xi (1130 – 1200) and Li Xue, the School of PrincipleZhu Xi taught at an academy until his death at the age of 70. He attractedmany students and established what would be called the “ School ofPrinciple ” because principle is central to his thinking. Zhu Xi bringstogether earlier ideas about qi , principle, the Supreme Ultimate, and anorthodox transmission of Confucianism.Zhu Xi ’ s understanding of principle is the same one we have just seen inthe discussions from the Cheng brothers. Principle is abstract and beyonda particular time or space. It is much like the essence of a thing. There is a