Scholarship · Literature · Philosophy · 1130–1200
Born: 18 October 1130 · Died: 23 April 1200 · Age at death: 69
Zhu Xi died aged 69. He was born on 18 October 1130 and died on 23 April 1200.
Song dynasty philosopher whose commentaries on the Four Books shaped Neo-Confucianism and China's civil service exams for centuries
Did you know?His commentaries on the Four Books became the standard requirement for the civil service examinations in China for centuries.
Zhu Xi was the most influential Chinese thinker after Confucius. Living under the Song dynasty, he brought together earlier ideas into a full system now called Neo-Confucianism. He taught that everything has a principle, and that study leads to moral understanding. He chose and annotated the Four Books as the core of Confucian learning. He also revived the famous White Deer Grotto Academy. His teachings were banned late in his life. Later dynasties made his commentaries the basis of the civil service exams for about 600 years.
Zhu Xi (Chinese: 朱熹;; October 18, 1130 – April 23, 1200), formerly romanized Chu Hsi, was a Chinese philosopher, historian, politician, poet, and calligrapher of the Southern Song dynasty.
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Profile
Chinese philosopher, 1130–1200
Zhu Xi was born in Youxi, Fujian, in 1130.
He passed the highest exam at 18.
He edited the Four Books.
He taught at the White Deer Grotto Academy.
Career highlights
Did you know?His teachings were banned shortly before his death.
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