Thesis abstract:

Among the Confucian thinkers of the Qing Dynasty who were critical of Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism (宋明理學), it is arguable that few (if any) can rival the fierce criticisms of Yan Yuan 顏元 (1635-1704). In particular, his trenchant criticisms of Zhu Xi 朱熹 (1130-1200) and his philosophy of moral self-cultivation through the investigation of Principle (li 理). In reading and interpreting one of Yan Yuan's primary texts, Criticisms of the Classified Conversations of Master Zhu (Zhuzi yulei ping 朱子語類評), in addition to some of Yan Yuan's other works, this doctoral research aims to provide an original interpretation of Yan Yuan’s philosophy of real learning (shi xue 實學) with an analysis of his criticisms and deconstruction of Zhu Xi’s Neo-Confucian philosophy.