Biography of Chen Xianzhang

Author: Huang Mingtong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-12-01
Features: Chen Xianzhang is the only Ming Dynasty scholar from Guangdong who was enshrined in the Confucian Temple. He was a philosopher, educator, and poet. He inherited the Lianxi School of Zhou Dunyi and integrated the doctrines of the Second Cheng brothers, Zhu Xi, Lu Ji, and Zhang Zai, proposing a new philosophical system based on "the Way as the foundation," "the mind possesses all principles," and the interplay of "heaven and earth as one qi" and "the Way connects with things." He established the Jiangmen School, whose teachings influenced Wang Yangming and Wang Fuzhi. This book briefly examines his academic pursuits and life path, providing a detailed analysis of Chen's metaphysical doctrines of "the Way as the foundation" and "the Way connects with things," as well as his epistemological theories of "the mind possesses all principles" and "learning values self-realization." It further explores his ideal personality of worldly engagement and natural detachment, his attitude of "act when applicable, retreat when necessary," and his life philosophy of "half-awake and half-intoxicated." Additionally, it examines his political thought of patriotism and compassion for the people, his educational philosophy of "teaching without discrimination" and "inspiring self-realization," and his poetic theory of "using the Way as poetry" and "teaching through poetry." It also introduces and evaluates the doctrines of Chen's disciple Zhan Ruoshui, such as "the unity of body and use" and "recognizing the principle of Heaven everywhere." This further clarifies that the school of thought created by Chen Xianzhang is neither materialist nor idealist but a new school of Li Xue (Neo-Confucianism) that synthesizes various doctrines while possessing distinct characteristics. The perspective presented in this book is uniquely original to the author. Chen Xianzhang is the only Ming Dynasty scholar from Guangdong who was enshrined in the Confucian Temple. He was a philosopher, educator, and poet. He inherited the Lianxi School of Zhou Dunyi and integrated the doctrines of the Second Cheng brothers, Zhu Xi, Lu Ji, and Zhang Zai, proposing a new philosophical system based on "the Way as the foundation," "the mind possesses all principles," and the interplay of "heaven and earth as one qi" and "the Way connects with things." He established the Jiangmen School, whose teachings influenced Wang Yangming and Wang Fuzhi. This book briefly examines his academic pursuits and life path, providing a detailed analysis of Chen's metaphysical doctrines of "the Way as the foundation" and "the Way connects with things," as well as his epistemological theories of "the mind possesses all principles" and "learning values self-realization." It further explores his ideal personality of worldly engagement and natural detachment, his attitude of "act when applicable, retreat when necessary," and his life philosophy of "half-awake and half-intoxicated." Additionally, it examines his political thought of patriotism and compassion for the people, his educational philosophy of "teaching without discrimination" and "inspiring self-realization," and his poetic theory of "using the Way as poetry" and "teaching through poetry." It also introduces and evaluates the doctrines of Chen's disciple Zhan Ruoshui, such as "the unity of body and use" and "recognizing the principle of Heaven everywhere." This further clarifies that the school of thought created by Chen Xianzhang is neither materialist nor idealist but a new school of Li Xue (Neo-Confucianism) that synthesizes various doctrines while possessing distinct characteristics. The perspective presented in this book is uniquely original to the author.