Zhou Dunyi (1017–1073) was a Northern Song philosopher, Neo-Confucian thinker, and writer. His original name was Dunshi (敦實; also written 惇實); his courtesy name was Maoshu (茂叔), and he was known by the sobriquet Lianxi (濂溪). He was a native of Yingdao in Daozhou, present-day Daoxian, Hunan.
Life
Orphaned young, he was raised by his mother's family and was the son of Zhou Fucheng. In the Jingyou era, through the protection privilege of his maternal uncle Zheng Xiang, he entered office as registrar at the Directorate of Palace Building and was then appointed registrar of Fenning. He was subsequently transferred to judicial assistant in Nan'an Military Prefecture.
He served as magistrate of Chen and Guiyang counties. He became magistrate of Nanchang, served as a judge in Hezhou, as assistant prefect of Qianzhou and Yongzhou, and as acting administrator of Shaozhou. His wives were Lu, first, and Pu, second; his sons were Zhou Shou and Zhou Tao, and his younger agnatic cousin was Zhou Yi.
He was friends with Kong Yanzhi and Zhou Wenmin and was recommended by Zhao Bian. During Xining, he was promoted to transport judge for Guangnan East Circuit and transferred to judicial surveillance. He later became administrator of Nankang Military Prefecture; because of illness, he requested an assignment in Nanjing and returned.
He settled below Lotus Peak on Mount Lu. A stream before the peak was named Lianxi after his native place, and scholars accordingly called him Master Lianxi; he also founded Lianxi Academy at Lotus Cave and styled himself Lianxi. He died in 1073 at the age of fifty-seven.
Thought and influence
He was learned in the Book of Changes and interested in discussions of principle. He formulated philosophical categories including wuji (the Non-Ultimate), taiji (the Supreme Ultimate), principle, qi, mind, nature, and destiny, and advanced the teachings of establishing sincerity and emphasizing tranquility. Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi studied under him. His teaching was carried on by the Cheng brothers; Neo-Confucianism rose with him and was later brought to synthesis by Zhu Xi, giving his thought a bridging role between earlier and later phases of the tradition.
Works
His works include *Explanation of the Diagram of the Supreme Ultimate* (《太極圖說》), *Tongshu* (《通書》), and a collected prose anthology; later generations compiled his writings as *Complete Works of Master Zhou* (《周子全書》). Other works include 《太極圖解》, 《太極說發明》, 《太極說通書發明》, and 《周子通書》. He also wrote the celebrated essay *On the Love of the Lotus* (〈愛蓮說〉).
Posthumous recognition
His posthumous title appears in two forms, Yuan and Yuan Gong: it is variously said to have been Yuan at his death, to have been conferred as Yuan Gong in 1220, the thirteenth year of Jiading under Emperor Ningzong, or simply to have been conferred as Yuan during Jiading. In 1241, the first year of Chunyou under Emperor Lizong, he was enshrined in the Confucian Temple.
References
- CBDB Zhou Dunyi (504)
- 搜韵 周敦頤 (23943)
- Wikidata Zhou Dunyi (Q197962)
- 法鼓佛教人名规范数据库 周敦頤 (A006823)