neoConfucian

Neo-Confucianism refers to a family of Chinese philosophical movements that emerged during the Song dynasty as a reinterpretation and revival of Confucian thought, incorporating metaphysical elements from Daoism and Buddhism. It became the dominant intellectual tradition in China, Korea, and Vietnam from the 11th to the 17th centuries and shaped education, government, and ethics.

Core ideas center on li (principle or pattern) and qi (material force), and on moral self-cultivation to align the individual with the order of the cosmos. The approach of gewu zhi zhi (investigation of things) seeks moral understanding that leads to proper action. The Four Books, with Zhu Xi’s commentaries, were established as the core curriculum for civil service examinations, reinforcing orthodox Confucian ethics and state philosophy.

Major figures and strands include the Cheng brothers (Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao), whose metaphysical groundwork influenced later thinkers; Zhu Xi, who synthesized their ideas into a systematic theory of li, qi, and the unity of knowledge and action; and Wang Yangming, together with Lu Jiuyuan (Lu Xiangshan), who developed a rival mind-centered tradition that held moral knowledge to be innate and emphasized the inseparability of knowing and doing.

Impact and legacy extend beyond China to Korea and Vietnam, where Neo-Confucianism shaped state ideology, education, and social ethics. It remained the dominant synthesis in East Asia for centuries and continues to be studied as a major strand of traditional philosophy, influencing modern debates on ethics, governance, and education.