This dissertation chooses Xue Ji-xuan and Tang Zhong-you for case studies to investigate the rise of the Jing-zhi School in the Southern Song Confucianism. In dealing with each case, it explores the historical context of the intellectuals' lives and examines their thought systematically. In the former aspect we trace the socio-political context and the intellectual context. The impact of the critical events and atmosphere in the early Southern Song on their lives is explored, and their relationship with the development of the Neo-Confucianism is examined in detail. In the latter aspect the basic meaning of the term "jing-zhi" is clarified. Based on this, the paper illuminates the structure of the political thought embodied in the Jing-zhi study, which represents the thinkers' unique con...[ Read more ]

This dissertation chooses Xue Ji-xuan and Tang Zhong-you for case studies to investigate the rise of the Jing-zhi School in the Southern Song Confucianism. In dealing with each case, it explores the historical context of the intellectuals' lives and examines their thought systematically. In the former aspect we trace the socio-political context and the intellectual context. The impact of the critical events and atmosphere in the early Southern Song on their lives is explored, and their relationship with the development of the Neo-Confucianism is examined in detail. In the latter aspect the basic meaning of the term "jing-zhi" is clarified. Based on this, the paper illuminates the structure of the political thought embodied in the Jing-zhi study, which represents the thinkers' unique conception of ideal political order. It consists of three main parts, the religio-metaphysical worldviews, moral-political values and institutional norms. The last two parts constitute two important pillars of the ideal politics. While Xue and Tang in principle affirmed the equal significance of the two pillars for their thought as a whole, in practice the emphasis of their writing fell on the evolvement of institutional norms. In the contemporary Confucian circles they stood apart from both the moral purism of Zhu Xi and the quasi-utilitarian stance of Chen Liang. In a broad sense, the Jing-zhi school can be seen as an attempt to steer a middle course between the two poles and thus staked out a growingly important position on the spectrum of the Neo-Confucian moral-practical thought.