Lu Jiuyuan
Lu Xiangshan
Founder of the Neo-Confucian 'School of Mind' — the universe is the mind.
Overview
The great Song rival of Zhu Xi and founder of the 'School of Mind' (Xinxue) later developed by Wang Yangming. Against Zhu Xi's emphasis on studying the principle in external things, Lu held that principle (li) is fully present in the mind itself: 'the universe is my mind, and my mind is the universe.' Moral truth is found by turning inward to the original mind, not by exhaustive book-learning. His famous debate with Zhu Xi at Goose Lake defined a lasting divide in Neo-Confucian thought.
What they supported — and why
The mind is principle
SupportedThe moral principle of the cosmos is complete within the mind itself.
WhySince the same principle pervades the universe and the mind, one need not search outward — the mind already contains what is to be known.
Establish the fundamental first
SupportedFirst establish the fundamental moral mind; broad book-learning is secondary.
WhyPiling up external study without rooting the moral mind is fragmentary and misses the essential; the root must come first.
The unity of mind and cosmos
SupportedThere is no ultimate separation, in principle, between the self and the universe.
WhyThe one principle is not divided, so the mind that realizes it is one with the universal order.
Causes championed
- The primacy of the moral mind
- Inner cultivation over erudition
- The unity of mind and cosmos
Issues wrestled with
- Is principle in the mind or in external things?
- How is moral truth found?
- What is the relation of self and universe?
Hurdles faced
- Opposing the increasingly dominant Zhu Xi
- His direct, anti-bookish approach charged with resembling Chan Buddhism
Works & books
1 catalogued. Status shows how much survives to today.
Recorded sayings and letters (collected works)
SurvivesHis teaching survives in dialogues and correspondence rather than a large systematic treatise.
Read the texts free
Their works online — Open Library catalogues 18 works & editions.
The influence network
See Lu Jiuyuan in the map →Influenced by
Influenced
In their words
“The universe is my mind, and my mind is the universe.”
— Lu Jiuyuan
Legacy
He founded the idealist 'School of Mind' that, through Wang Yangming, became one of the two great currents of Neo-Confucianism.
Further reading
Cross-checked against these authoritative references.