What is the theory of mind and nature in Neo-Confucianism of Song and Ming Dynasties, and what is its origin?

Neo-Confucianism was first named in the Southern Song Dynasty. Zhu once said that "Neo-Confucianism is the most difficult", and Lu Jiuyuan also said that "Neo-Confucianism in this dynasty is far better than Han and Tang Dynasties". In the Ming Dynasty, Neo-Confucianism became a concept that specifically referred to the academic system formed since the Song Dynasty.

Neo-Confucianism has broad sense and narrow sense. Neo-Confucianism in a broad sense refers to the dominant Confucian philosophical system formed since the Song and Ming Dynasties, including: (1) Taoism dominated by Luo studies in the Song Dynasty, and the ideological system with "Li" as the highest category, which reached its peak in the Southern Song Dynasty and was later used to referring to his ideological system with "Li". (2) The ideological system with "mind" as the highest category came into being in the Song Dynasty and dominated in the middle and late Ming Dynasty. The Theory of Mind and Nature represented by Lu Jiuyuan and Wang Shouren. Neo-Confucianism in a narrow sense refers to the Zhu Cheng School. Representative figures: Northern Song Dynasty: Zhou Dunyi, Zhang Zai, Cheng Hao, Cheng Yi and Shao Yong. That is, the five sons of the Northern Song Dynasty; Southern Song Dynasty: Zhu and Lu Jiuyuan; Ming Dynasty: Wang Yangming. As far as the dominant ideological trend is concerned, the representative of Neo-Confucianism can be summarized as "Zhu Cheng Lu Wang".

Main schools: According to the usual practice of modern academic circles, the Neo-Confucianism system in Song and Ming Dynasties can be divided into four schools: Qi (represented by Zhang Zai), Mathematics (represented by Shao Yong), Neo-Confucianism (represented by thought) and Mind (represented by thought).

The issues discussed by Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties are different due to different periods and schools. An important difference between Neo-Confucianism and Confucianism before the Tang Dynasty is that the four books have become the main classics of respecting faith. The value system and the kung fu system are all in the four books. Six classics are coarse grains, and four books are cooked rice. The main basis of Neo-Confucianism and the issues discussed are closely related to The Analects of Confucius, Mencius, Daxue and The Doctrine of the Mean. The main issues discussed in Neo-Confucianism are generally: regulating qi, mind, respecting things, knowing, respecting calmness, self-restraint, knowing and doing, developing without development, virtue and mind, and the nature of destiny.

The Song, Yuan and Ming Dynasties was another peak of China's cultural and philosophical development. Because the main representative form of China's philosophy in Song and Ming Dynasties was Neo-Confucianism, people used to refer to the philosophy of this period with the concept of Neo-Confucianism.

Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties is a historical statement of Confucianism, and it is the transformation of Confucianism from Buddhism to Taoism after the transformation of metaphysics in Wei and Jin Dynasties. Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties is a powerful revival of Confucianism, which has gradually declined since Sui and Tang Dynasties. This movement to revive Confucianism was initiated by Wang Tong in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, followed by Han Yu, Li Ao and Liu Zongyuan after the mid-Tang Dynasty, which became a grand spectacle in the Song Dynasty and formed a huge and far-reaching Confucian movement. In terms of time, this Confucian movement lasted until the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and its influence continued until the present age. In space, this Confucian movement is not limited to the hometown of Confucianism, but also involves East Asian countries influenced by Confucianism, so that in these countries, the so-called Confucianism is mainly Neo-Confucianism (or Neo-Confucianism); Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties was a positive response of ambitious and thoughtful academic groups in China at that time to real social problems and cultural challenges from foreign Buddhism and local Taoism. On the basis of digesting and absorbing Buddhism and Taoism, they launched a so-called cultural offensive against Buddhism and Taoism similar to Mencius' "opening ink", trying to solve the extremely serious crisis of faith and morality in China society since the end of Han Dynasty.

Neo-Confucianism in the Song and Ming Dynasties reflected the philosophical wisdom of thoughtful and knowledgeable China people in the later period of China ancient society, and profoundly influenced the social development and civilization trend in the later period of China ancient society. Modern China people still have to face its social and cultural consequences. However, it is precisely this intellectual achievement that successfully responded to the Buddha's later years and brought Confucianism back to the orthodox position.