A View of the General Trend and Potential of Neo-Confucianism in Terms of the Humanics in the Song and the Ming Dynasty

The theory of double human nature was creatively contributed by Zhang Zai who tried to correct the partialities both in Buddhism and Taoism and Confucianism in the Han and the Tang Dynasty. Since the Luo School, the approach of moral practice represented by Cheng Jing and that of investigation and analysis started to gain popularity in the field of Chinese philosophy. Hence the argument between Zhu Xi and the Cheng brothers. From the Yuan to the Ming Dynasty, the Xin school reached the pinnacle of moral practice by combining the two approaches, but it simply neglected the objective world in its observation whereas the Qi school advocated intellectual retionale and pursuit but was on the brink of marginalizing moral concern. Therefore, maintaining the agreement between the two approaches and avoiding their partialities is both potential of development of Neo-Confucianism in the Song and the Ming Dynasty and internal dynamo to absorb western culture and reestablish Chinese culture.