New Perspectives on Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism (Ontological Construction and the Turn to Subjectivity)

Author: Fu Xiaofan (Compiler)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty was primarily revived in the form of Daoism. Represented by Zhu Xi, Song Dynasty Confucians constructed a complete metaphysical system and gradually gained an exclusive position in the intellectual world. In the late Ming Dynasty, Xinxue replaced the dominant position of Lixue to become the prominent school, marking a distinct turning point in the development of Chinese philosophy. People shifted their focus from contemplating objective entities to exploring the nature of the subjective mind; from the subject adapting to the object to the object adapting to the subject. This philosophical turn toward subjectivity contributed to the liberation of late Ming thought. It gave rise to "Voluntarism," which broke free from determinism, and "Emotivism," which challenged traditional Confucian rituals with desires. Two parallel paths emerged: rationalism and irrationalism. During the late Ming and early Qing period, Daoism demonstrated efforts to harmonize rationality and irrationality, integrate will and determinism, and unify knowledge, intention, and emotion. The three schools of thought—Li, Qi, and Xin—eventually achieved a harmonious unity, concluding the historical transformation of philosophical subjectivity.