On the Issue of Moral Mind and Human Mind in Neo-Confucianism:Comparing the Theory of the Mind and the Theory of Zhu Xi

Zhu Xi's theory of unity between moral mind and human mind constitutes a major object of study for theorists of the mind who formulated theories of moral mind and human mind. Wang Yang-ming and Zhan Ruo-shui propose the theory of opposition between moral mind and human mind,which emphasizes the desiring aspect of human mind,and is therefore in sharp contrast with Zhu Xi's theory. Liu Zong-zhou puts forward the theory of monism between moral mind and human mind,which emphasizes that moral mind is the nature of human mind and has therefore more similarity to Zhu Xi's theory. What theorists of the mind have proposed about moral mind and human mind does not have independent significance in their system,which makes them different from Zhu Xi who pays much more attention to moral mind and human mind. Such analyses and judgments to some extent constitute challenges to the standpoint of Yu Ying-shi.