Summary of Zhou Dunyi's experience:

In the first year of Tianxi (1017), Zhou Dunyi was born.

In the second year of Tiansheng (1024), Zhou Dunyi was 8 years old. Three years after his father died of illness, he and his half-brother Lu Dunwen followed their mother to seek refuge with their uncle, Longtuge, in Hengzhou (now Hengyang). Zheng Xiang, a bachelor, was deeply loved by Zheng Xiang because of his intelligence, benevolence and filial piety. He also loved white lotus. Zheng Xiang built a pavilion at the foot of Fenghuang Mountain in the West Lake in front of his home (today's No. 2 Middle School of Hengyang City) to plant lotuses. Zhou Dunyi studied the scriptures and understood the Taoism there. On a midsummer night, the lotus flowers are in full bloom, and the fragrance is overwhelming and beautiful. The former residence of the Zheng family was later changed to the Lianxi Zhou Ancestral Hall (now the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of South China).

In 1037, Zheng Xiang was transferred to the transfer envoy to Zhejiang and Zhejiang. Zhou Dunyi left Hengyang and moved to Dantu County, Runzhou (now Dantu District, Zhenjiang City) with his uncle.

In the sixth year of Qingli (1046), Cheng Xiang, the father of Er Cheng, a minister of the Dali Temple, met Zhou Dunyi in Nan'an. He saw that he had "a very human appearance" and talked with him, and even learned that he was "a scholar of knowledge". ", became friends with him, and then sent his two sons Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi to Nan'an to worship him as their teacher.

In the winter of the fourth year of Qingli, the Guiyang Order was moved to Chen (now Rucheng County, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province).

In the first year of Zhihe (1054), he was granted the title of Prime Minister of Dali Temple and became known as Nanchang County, Hongzhou (now Nanchang, Jiangxi). When he took office, when the local people learned that he was Zhou Dunyi who could identify suspicious cases when he was an official in Fenning, they happily said: "He is the one who can identify the prison of Ning, and I will be able to sue him." (Selected from " The original biography of "History of Song Dynasty·Taoxue 1")

In the first year of Jiayou (1056), he changed the prince's residence and signed a book signed by the judge of Hezhou for five years.

In the sixth year of Jiayou's reign (1061), he moved to the Imperial Academy to be a doctor and a general judge of Qianzhou.

In the first year of Zhiping (1064), he was transferred to Yongzhou Tongpan.

In the first year of Xining (1068), he was transferred to the Yubu doctor and promoted to Guangnan West Road Prison. The following year, he was transferred to the Nankang Army.

In the fifth year of Xining (1072), he settled in Lianxi Shutang, Lushan. In mid-June of the sixth year of Xining (1073), he died of illness here at the age of 57.

Historical records can be found in "History of the Song Dynasty Volume 427 Biography 186"

Main works

"Collection of Zhou Yuan Gong"< /p>

Zhou Zi’s studies focused on tranquility. The essence of his life is contained in "Tai Chi Pictures" and "Tongshu". The poems and chapters were not paid attention to, so there was no anthology at that time. "Zhou Yuan Gong Ji" was compiled and compiled by Zhu Jun's family.

"Tai Chi Pictures"

"Tai Chi Pictures" is an explanation written by Zhou Dunyi in the Song Dynasty of China for his "Tai Chi Pictures". The full text is 249 words. The article believes that "Tai Chi" is the origin of the universe, and that human beings and all things are composed of the interaction of the two qi of yin and yang and the five elements of water, fire, wood, metal, and earth. The five elements are unified in Yin and Yang, and Yin and Yang are unified in Tai Chi. The article highlights the value and role of people. The article advocates: "Only people are the most spiritual because of their beauty." Among the crowd, the value and role of saints are particularly highlighted. It is believed that "sages are determined by justice, benevolence and righteousness, and focus on tranquility. "It's very important to establish a person." This article had a great influence on later generations, with many editions, including Zhu Xi's "Records of Modern Thoughts" and "Song and Yuan Xue An" compiled by Huang Zongxi and others.

"Tongshu"

"Tongshu" is Zhou Dunyi's experience in reading the Book of Changes. Many people study the Book of Changes and make predictions, and there are also many people who practice Feng Shui and fortune-telling. But how well do they study it? The realm, culture, and temperament of these forecasting masters may not necessarily make them smart. Zhou Dunyi was the founder of Neo-Confucianism in the Song and Ming Dynasties. With his state of mind, he came in and out of the three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. In the process of studying the Book of Changes, he wrote about forty chapters of his experiences. These forty chapters integrate the fundamental spirit of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and condense the wisdom of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism through the reading experience of the Book of Changes.

"Ai Lian Shuo"

It shows from the foil that he does not care about fame and fortune, and has a clean and self-sufficient life attitude, and expresses his disdain for the worldly customs of pursuing fame and fortune and following the trend of others.

Famous verse: The lotus comes out of the mud but is not stained, and the lotus leaves the clear ripples without being evil------"The Love of the Lotus"

The Love of the Lotus

Author: Zhou Dunyi

The flowers of land and water are very cute. Tao Yuanming of Jin Dynasty only loved chrysanthemums. Since Li Tang, people have loved peonies. I only love the lotus that emerges from the mud but is not stained; it is clear in the ripples without being demonic; it is straight in the middle and straight in the outside; it does not creep or branch; its fragrance becomes clearer from a distance; its pavilion is clean and planted; it can be viewed from a distance but not played with.

I say chrysanthemum, the flower that represents seclusion; peony, the flower that represents wealth; lotus, the flower that represents the gentleman. Alas! The love of chrysanthemum is rarely heard of after Tao.

Who can share the love of the lotus? The love of the peony is suitable for everyone!