A Study On Sun Qifeng’s Neo-confucian Learning

Sun Qifeng (1585-1675), whose courtesy name was Qitai, known as Master Xiafeng, was a famous Confucian scholar and thinker in in late Ming and early Qing. Due to some reasons, there are not much study on Xiafeng’s theory and his historical position in the academic circle. This paper aims to research on his learning to reflect his value and meaning and promote the related study.In the chapter of introduction, this paper makes an overview on the former study on Xiafeng’s thought. Before the Republican period, there are not much study on Xiafeng’s thought。And this situation continued after the Republican period. After1980s,a systematical study gradually spread with Prof. Li Zhijian as the core. In the early of the century, a group of young scholars started to stress on the study of Xiafeng philosophy, getting plenty of achievements. The main methods which have been used are historical study, philosophical study, comparative study, systematic study. There are two innovate viewpoints in this paper:on the self-cultivation and Xiafeng’s realm of life.This paper introduces the background of Xiafeng’s thought. One is Zhu Xi’s learning and Wang Yangming’s thought including Zhu Xi’s respecting Confucian orthodoxy and Wang Yangming’s mind/heart-ology. The other is Practical learning trend since the late Ming dynasty. Based on the above, Sun Xiafeng established his original theory to return Confucius and Mencius’ Learning, integrating Zhu Xi and Lu Jiuyuan’s thoughts.In chapter one, this paper elaborates Xiafeng’s life. He failed repeatedly in Imperial Examination and then he turned to pursue his studies. Xiafeng paid attention on self-cultivation of virtue and resisted the Qing government. The hard life encouraged his noble characteristics. His learning got more profound and his realm got a more advancement.In chapter two, this paper points out that Xiafeng’s thinking train. He started from Zhu (?) theory on the relationship between principle and Qi and then reflected the noumenon of mind/heart, different from Lu Jiuyuan and Wang Yangming’s theory of mind/heart-ology. He expounded the magical effect of principle with the concept of Taiji(Ultimate Grand). Taiji is the Dao which exists ahead of all the things and is the root of all the things. Xiafeng interpreted principle to establish his theory of mind/heart-ology. We can say, theory of principle only is the footnote of his theory of mind/heart-ology. He gave a pay to Zhu Xi’s theory of principle and stressed on the domination from mind/heart on principle.In chapter three, we can see, Xiafeng believed that none nature is not good. Human can regain his nature through getting rid of material desire. Based on the theory of Zhu Xi and Wang Yangming, he formed his original method of self-cultivation. He proposed that heart noumenon originally is clear, is born like that. Material desire makes mind/heart deviate from its original condition. So human must make his self-cultivation through Fangxin and Gewu, which mediates the related theory of Zhu Xi and Lu Jiuyuan.In chapter four, we expound that in Xiafeng’s lifetime, he inside and outside holds concurrently long, union of noumenon and function, integrating Zhu Xi’s theory with Wang Yangming’s thought. Xiafeng was indifferent to fame and wealth to practice his self-cultivation. In his theory, he inherited the thought of Zhang Zai and Cheng Hao, reflecting his awareness of social responsibility. Xiafeng affirmed that human has his own source to be a sage and man of virtue, so human can become a sage and man of virtue through practicing self-cultivation in daily life. Seeking the true happiness of Confucius and Yan Yuan is to reach the realm of sage and men of virtue.In chapter five, this paper gives a pertinent evaluation on Xiafeng’s theory. Xiafeng elaborated the Confucian orthodoxy, showing his historical responsibility. Xiafeng gave his view on the theories of Zhu Xi and Lu Jiuyuan, and absorbed their theories to build (?)p his original system, learning from the others’ advantages. He devoted himself to eaching and educated a generation of scholars in the early Qing dynasty, playing a role of connecting link between the preceding and the following. In odd theory, this paper overviews the epic meaning of Xiafeng’s theory. Nowadays, we face the challenge of cultural conflict and assimilatory, arising from social political and economic reform. In the challenge, a key issue is to realize the value of human existing. Chinese philosophy is about the learning of human being which can provide us with the thinking orientation and value idea. We can find some useful way from Xiafeng’s theory. From this angle, we can say, Xiafeng’s cultural life has its modern meaning.