A discussion of Wang Shizhen's reflection on neoConfucianism in the Song and the Ming Dynasties

Wang Shizhen,the greater master in literary arena of the middle and the late Ming Dynasty made a systematic reflection on Confucianism while advocating the literary movement of back to the ancients.By referring to the original Confucian doctrines,he pointed out that many incoherent remarks and strained conclusions were made in interpreting classics and doing historical research with the neo-Confucianism of the Song Dynasty.Wang made a frank criticism on the malpractice of neo-Confucianism and the relevant literary notions,which presenting the tendency of returning to the original Confucianism proposed by Confucius and Mencius.