Abstract:
As the cumulation of the rationalistic Confucianism in the North and the South Song Dynasty, Zhu Xi's philosophy was regarded as "the most extensive and the most profound" in the history of Chinese civilization. However, ever since its establishment, Zhu's philosophy has been exposed to criticisms in different ways and from philosophers of different historical periods. Lu Xiangshan condemned it as "being obscure in discussing the Tao"; Wang Yangming despised it as "the learning of the old"; Mu Zongsan criticized it of "mistaking the micro for the macro" and "discussing existence with animation". All this shows a course from criticization through adjustment to contention. Since Zhu always maintained his approach of interpreting and realizing transcendence by generality, he not only regarded morality and rationale as existence but also made human nature "physiological". This determined his resentment of Buddhism and avoidance of "any advancement" of his rationalistic Confucianism. Meanwhile it limited his view of the universe and its orientation. As a result, an equivalence of common sense to the spirit of transcendence remains the weakness of Zhu's philosophy and the major reason for repeated and continuous criticisms of it.
