On Zhou Dunyi’s Theory Of Sage

The theory of sage is an important part of Zhou Dunyi’s philosophy.Based on the ideological background of debate among Confucianism,Buddhism and Taoism,Zhou Dunyi’s theory of sage not only inherits the traditional Confucian sage concept,but also shows abundant innovation.By analyzing the theory of sage,people can have an insight into the construction of Zhou Dunyi’s philosophy.From the perspective of the relationship between the theory of sage and Zhou Dunyi’s philosophy,Zhou Dunyi’s stipulation on the sage are based on the theory of cosmogenesis with“Great Ultimate”(Tai Ji太极)as the core,and the sage is presented as an important part and link of the universe generation(Great Ultimate of Human Beings(Li Ren Ji立人极)).From the perspective of the generation of the meaning world,Great Ultimate and Creativity(Cheng诚)are connective and distinctive from each other.The sage plays a core role in the interaction between Great Ultimate and Creativity.At the same time,the sage shows the perfect human nature ability of Creativity(Cheng诚)Mystery(Shen神)and propensity(Ji几).The process of generating the meaning world is also that of common people who refining themselves and becoming the sage.By inheriting the traditional Confucian“the sage can be learned”,Zhou Dunyi proposed a phased theory of cultivation“Scholars want to be virtuous people,while virtuous people hope to be the sage who try to understand Heaven(Shi Xi Xian,Xian Xi Sheng and Sheng Xi Tian士希贤,贤希圣,圣希天)”,and put forward the method of mind cultivation:“objectless desire leads to quiet(Wu Yu Gu Jing无欲故静)”.Thus,Zhou Dunyi unfolds the way of sanctification from the two dimensions of external thought-learn and inner mind.The remarkable trait of Zhou Dunyi’s theory of sage is the discussion of“the eudaemonia of Confucius and Yan Yuan(Kong Yan Zhi Le孔颜之乐)”,which is closely related to the meaning of reconstructing the Confucian life world.“The eudaemonia of Confucius and Yan Yuan”is not only Zhou Dunyi’s theory of sage,but also his life attitude.From the perspective of Confucian orthodoxy,Zhou Dunyi’s theory of sage is closely related to the Neo-Confucianism from Song to Ming Dynasties.“Great Ultimate”is a new perspective proving the noble nature of sage from the perspective of ontology.The spiritual realm of“The eudaemonia of Confucius and Yan Yuan”is followed and explored by following philosophers.The method of“objectless desire leads to quiet”influenced the tendency of Neo-Confucianism which emphasizes the mental sage.The official image of Confucianism became the mental sage,while the image of the heroic sage tended to lose.Last but not least,Zhou Dunyi’s theory of sage still has guiding significance to the pursuit of ideal personality in modern society.