The Diversity of Confucianism in the Southern Song Dynasty: A Comparative Study of Zhu Xi's and Zhang Shi's Views on <i>Taiji</i> and Human Nature

Abstract Zhang Shi ?? (1133–80), a Confucian scholar of the Southern Song dynasty, has been considered as yielding to Zhu Xi's ?? (1130–1200) ideas in most cases, his own thought exhibiting no specific features. This essay is an attempt examine differences between and Shi's supreme pivot (taiji ??) nature (xing ?) theories. The features influence on neo-Confucianism dynasty should be reexamined. Some contemporary scholars, including Shi, have ignored certain degree since Xi was praised representative neo-Confucianism. study shows diversity dynasty.