8th+Period

Neo-Confucianism In China

A painting of the "Vinegar Tasters" shows Buddha, Laozi, and Confucius around one vat of vinegar and depicts the Neo-Confucianism idea that "the three teachings are one".

Writings of Chu Hsi brought to Korea by Chong Mong-ju, the leader of Neo-Confucianism in Korea.

Social-

The traditional Chinese philosophy, based on the teachings of Confucius, were being fogged by foreigners brought in by the Mongols, who didn't agree with Confucianism. Also to blame for this loss of tradition, was the spread of Buddhism, which was regarded as a "foreign" religion. The Neo-Confucianists wanted to bring back the Chinese tradition of Confucianism.

Political-

Neo-Confucianism took the form of a reform movement in China. It attempted to address socionomic problems. Confucian scholars became involved in Chinese politics when they created programs of reformation based on Confucian doctrine. A leader of this movement, K'ang Yu-wei, attempted to declare Confucianism the national religion, but foreign threats and demand for drastic political measures caused the movement to eventually fail. It was later accepted as a Chinese creed from its development in the Song dynasty to the early 20th century. It became the interpretation of Confucianism that was needed to pass the bureaucratic examinations in the Ming dynasty and was used all the way through the Qing dynasty and up until 1905, the end of the Imperial examination system.

Religious-

Neo-Confucians blended Confucian ideas with Taoist and Buddhist ideas. Human interpersonal relationships and the concern for government and society are both inseparably united as the path to personal fulfillment. Even though the Neo-Confucianists incorporated Taoist and Buddhist ideology, most strongly opposed the religious aspects of the two. They believed that human nature is good, but not pure unless action is taken to purify it. Neo-Confucianists did not believe in an external world seperated from the world of matter, like heaven. They also rejected the idea of karma and reincarnation.

Intellectual-

Neo-Confucianism split into two schools of philosophy, the Li (law) school of philosophy and the Hsin (mind) school of philosophy. The leader of the Li school of philosophy was Chu Hsi (1130-1200). He started a new philosophical infrastructure for Confucianism by organizing scholarly opinion into a system. He came up with concept that all objects in nature are composed of two inherent forces: li, an immaterial universal principal or law, and ch'i, the substance of which all things are made. Li is the underlying law of myriad of things, so it is constant and indestructible, Ch'i can dissolve and fade. The second school is the Hsin school of philosophy, which opposed Li. The main leader of the Hsin school was Wang Yang-ming, who preached the unity of knowledge and practice. He said that "apart from the mind, law nor object exists". He believed that knowledge was gained more through calm meditation and thought, rather than study and observation of natural law.

Technological-

Technology was never affected by Neo-Confucianism.

Economy-

Economy was never affected by Neo-Confucianism.

Time Frame- The time frame of Neo-Confucianism was 960-1905. From the Song Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty.

Wang Yangming- Wang Yangming (1472-1529) was a Neo-Confucian philosopher, a calligraphist, and a general. Next to Zhu Xi he was the most important Neo-Confucian thinker. In the School of mind he was the leading figure.

Picture Wang Yangming

Chu Hsi- Chu Hsi (1130-1200) is known as the central revival of Confucianism. He synthesized the disparate contributions of the early thinkers into powerful visions.

Picture of Chu Hsi

Fall of Neo-Confucianism- Although there was never an official fall to Neo-Confucianism, the Evidential School argued that Confucianism was being contaminated by Buddhist thinking. The school also thought it was being pulled away from reality.

What Makes It Unique? The thing that makes Neo-Confucianism unique is the fact that it is Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism beliefs all into one. It is also unique because there are Neo-Confucian retreats, but there are no Neo-Confucian monasteries.

**__Related sites:__**

History Channel Online

http://www.history.com/encyclopedia.do?articleId=206303

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

http://www.iep.utm.edu/neo-conf/

One Little Angel

http://www.onelittleangel.com/wisdom/quotes/neo_confucianism.asp

World History Connected

http://worldhistoryconnected.press.illinois.edu/4.1/tanner.html

Bukisa

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/145360_an-introduction-to-neo-confucianism-

__**Bibliography **__

"CONFUCIANISM,." 2009. History.com. 13 Oct 2009, 10:21 http://www.history.com/encyclopedia.do?articleId=206303.

"Neo Confucianism." Washington.edu. Web. .