What are the major developments of Neo-Confucianism in the Song and Ming Dynasties compared with Confucianism in the pre-Qin period?

Neo-Confucianism refers to the philosophical trend of thought in the Northern Song Dynasty, with Zhou Dunyi, Shao Yong, Zhang Zai, Cheng Hao, Cheng Yi and Zhu as the main representatives.

Its characteristics are mainly based on Confucius and Mencius' theory, Zhouyi, Analects of Confucius, Mencius, Daxue, The Doctrine of the Mean and other classics, criticizing the ethics and moral theories of Buddhism and Taoism since the Sui and Tang Dynasties, denying benevolence, righteousness, courtesy and wisdom, and critically absorbing the thoughts of Buddhism and Taoism. They care about social reality, advocate the so-called "moral life" theory, and discuss the universe and human life from the perspective of ontology. [2]

Mr. Feng Youlan (1895- 1990) clearly called Neo-Confucianism or Taoism in the Song and Ming Dynasties "Neo-Confucianism" in his English version "A Brief History of Chinese Philosophy", and believed that the founders of Neo-Confucianism were Han Yu and Li Ao in the Tang Dynasty. "The foundation and outline of Taoism in Song and Ming Dynasties were determined by Han Yu and Li Ao in Tang Dynasty. And Li's contribution is especially true. " However, the real establishment of "new Confucianism" is a two-stage process. "Although Lianxi and Hengqu are all powerful elements of Taoism, the establishment of Taoism in Song and Ming Dynasties should be decided by the Cheng brothers."

Feng Youlan believes that the "newness" of "new Confucianism" has two distinct characteristics in terms of its theoretical source or ideological content: First, it helps Buddhism to enter Confucianism, absorbs the abstract and formal expertise of Buddhism, and exerts some Zen thoughts. "It can be said that Neo-Confucianism is the logical development of Zen"; The second is to assist Taoism to enter Confucianism. "An important part of Taoism is the theory of the generation of the universe of Yin and Yang. Neo-Confucianism's cosmological theory is mainly related to this ideological line, such as Zhou Dunyi's "Tai Chi Tu Shuo" and Shao Yong's (101-1077) image mathematics.

Feng Youlan believes that Neo-Confucianism is a synthesis of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism (through Zen) and Taoism. Feng Youlan's "Neo-Confucianism" theory was almost unanimously recognized in China after it was exported to the domestic market. [3]