Confucian Cosmogony

LIFE OF ZHU XI (CHOO-FOO-TSZE)

...prefect of Zhangzhou original: Chang-chow; a city in Fujian province. The manners and customs of the people under his jurisdiction there had significantly declined. Some neglected to wear mourning clothes upon the death of their parents. The women frequented Buddhist monasteries to perform religious rites, and some even left their homes to become nuns. Zhu Xi original: Choo-tsze strictly prohibited all these practices. He also printed copies of the Five Classics The classic texts of Confucianism: the Books of Odes, Documents, Rites, Changes, and the Spring and Autumn Annals and the Four Books The canonical works selected by Zhu Xi: the Great Learning, the Doctrine of the Mean, the Analects, and the Mencius, and circulated them among the people. Addressing one of his pupils on a certain occasion, he remarked, “When I commenced the study of philosophy, there were many principles which I never expected to master; but now I find that every doubt regarding them has gone.” So great was the progress which Zhu Xi had made in the study of the writings of Confucius The Latinized name of Kong Fuzi, the 6th-century BCE founder of the Confucian tradition.

On receiving the appointment of Imperial Essayist and Reader to the Emperor Ningzong reigned 1194–1224; he was the fourth emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty, one of his disciples remarked that His Majesty administered the government with a pure heart, and asked his Master what he considered as requiring the most urgent attention? Zhu Xi replied, “Such is the state of affairs at present, that nothing short of a great and thorough reform will suffice? to move the Mind of Heaven an important Neo-Confucian concept suggesting a moral resonance between the ruler's heart and the cosmic order, or to rejoice the hearts of men. As to myself, I know it to be my duty to act with the utmost degree of sincerity and assiduity. For anything further than this, it is not my province to be concerned.”

“Under ordinary circumstances, Zhu was accustomed,” as his biographer states, “to rise before day, dress in plain clothes, a broad scholar's cap, and square-toed shoes, and then to worship at the domestic shrine, and at that of the ancient sages; then, to repair to his study, where his chairs, tables, etc., must all be in order and his books and writing utensils in their proper places. At his meals, he ordered that the table furniture, and the dishes of soup and rice should all be arranged in a certain order, and that his chopsticks and spoons should have their fixed places. When fatigued by study he would rest himself, closing his eyes and sitting erect; and when refreshed, he would rise and with measured steps walk about for relaxation. At midnight he would retire, and if he chanced to awake in the night, he would wrap himself up in a quilt and sit in bed, sometimes until daylight. His countenance was grave and manly; his speech loud and distinct, his gait easy and dignified; he sat straight and erect; and