Zhang Zai and Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi’s “workshop on The Book of Changes in the imperial Capital” was a leading historical event when they met first for academic exchange. An exploratory analysis of this event shows that The Book of Changes took an important place in the theories of both parties. Deeply influenced by Wang Bis studies of The Book of Changes, Zhang and the Chengs both emphasized practice of the principles in The Book of Changes. Founders of NeoConfucianism, they elaborately studied Buddhism and then turned back to explore The Six Classics because, devoted to Confucianism, they needed to absorb Buddhist wisdom. In fact the “workshop on The Book of Changes in the imperial Capital” indicated that Zhang and the Chengs began to return to the Confucian orthodox and try to reestablish the Taoist Construction.

Zhang Zai; Cheng Hao; Cheng Yi; the workshop on The Book of Changes in the imperial Capital; The Book of Changes