Zhu Xi

Record yearLate 12th century

summaryOrganized scattered concepts into a system connecting knowledge, action, and moral cultivation, and clarified boundaries in contemporary debates.

M rationaleM6.4 is assessed for systematic integration across ontology, epistemology, and ethical practice, and for texts that remain open to long-term study; it neither treats propositions about li and qi as scientific facts nor counts later official-orthodoxy power as a personal achievement.

attribution rationaleZhu Xi .32, Northern Song Daoxue predecessors .28, debaters .12, disciples’ records .08, broad intellectual traditions .10, unresolved .10.

overlap boundaryIn the late 12th century, Zhu Xi connected li, qi, gewu, jing, and ethical cultivation into a philosophical system. It excludes all Song–Ming Neo-Confucianism, the original texts of the Four Books, later state orthodoxy, and philosophical propositions treated as empirical facts. The textual-tool value of the compilation *Reflections on Things at Hand*, collation and annotation of the Five Classics, and commentary on the Four Books is claimed separately in their corresponding entries.

Evidence gapsThe conceptual wording attributable to Zhu Xi, disciples’ records, and later compiled versions has not been distinguished text by text; the system’s direct constraining effects on different social groups have not yet been established through institutional history.

Record yearcirca 1190

summaryReorganizes four existing texts into a continuous learning framework, providing specific chapter-and-verse commentary, ordering, and study tools; the value of the general philosophical system is already accounted for in the first entry.

M rationaleM6.3 is assessed for extensive commentaries, textual reorganization, and reusable study tools. Later adoption in imperial examinations indicates foundational influence, while the exclusionary consequences of orthodoxy are not attributed to Zhu Xi’s direct implementation.

attribution rationaleZhu Xi .28, original authors and transmitters .32, earlier commentary traditions .14, disciple collation .08, original printing .05, unresolved .13.

overlap boundaryThe selection, editing, arrangement, and ordering of the Great Learning, the Analects, the Mencius, and the Doctrine of the Mean, along with the interpretive system of the Collected Commentaries on the Four Books (Sishu Zhangju Jizhu). Excluded are the original composition of the Four Books, their use in the imperial examinations after the Yuan dynasty, and all later Confucian education. Among these, the general philosophical relations of principle (li), vital force (qi), the investigation of things (gewu), and reverence (jing) are used only as input for the first point and are not repeated in the annotation points.

Evidence gapsThe original printing, disciples’ participation, and differences among editions during Zhu Xi’s lifetime have not been fully established; the net consequences of later examination adoption require a separate institutional-history contribution and are not fed back into this entry.

Record yearLate 12th century

summaryFormed critical editions, interpretive order, and usable commentaries for multiple classics; does not repeat the general philosophical system.

M rationaleM5.6 is assessed for the residual contribution of specific annotations, editions, and study tools for several major classics. SEP confirms his editorial annotation of the *Book of Changes*, *Book of Songs*, *Songs of Chu*, and *Cantong qi*; the value of the original texts and the li–qi system are not duplicated.

attribution rationaleZhu Xi .30, original authors and transmitters .32, earlier commentary traditions .15, disciples’ collation .08, original printing .05, unresolved .10.

overlap boundaryZhu Xi’s textual collation, annotation, and study tools for major classics including the *Zhou Yi*, *Book of Songs*, *Songs of Chu*, and *Cantong qi*. It excludes original authorship, the Four Books system, general li–qi philosophy, and later critical editions.

Evidence gapsThe editions from Zhu Xi’s lifetime, disciples’ collation, and differences in annotation have not been verified work by work; the independent residual of the *Songs of Chu* and *Cantong qi* relative to earlier annotations still requires textual comparison.

Record yearcirca 1179

summaryCompiles reading, ethical relations, and practical order into a clear educational text usable by academies.

M rationaleM5.2 is assessed for an explicit educational text and limited institutional use; existing previews cannot establish the scale of daily implementation, so academy revival and all educational effects are not attributed to the text.

attribution rationaleZhu Xi .30, educational administrators .12, academy .18, earlier educational traditions .18, transmission and printing .05, unresolved .17.

overlap boundaryThe learning program of the "White Deer Grotto Academy Manifesto" drafted by Zhu Xi and the limited institutional capacity within the academy at that time. Excludes the entire history of White Deer Grotto, all academies, students' future achievements, and the Chinese educational system.

Evidence gapsLacking academy archives to verify revival, joint drafting, and actual implementation. Unverified student and teacher feedback on and deviations from the rules.

Record yearApproximately 1172; completed and published posthumously

summaryRearranging materials with outlines and details to form a completed compilation outcome that facilitates grasping historical structure and making normative judgments.

M rationaleM5.5 assessed by independent compilation structure, reusable historiographical format, and long-term textual influence. Its moralization and orthodox judgments may compress historical complexity, so popularity is not equated with accuracy.

attribution rationaleZhu Xi .20, disciples’ compilation .25, Sima Guang’s original work .25, earlier historiographical traditions .10, block-printing transmission .08, unresolved .12.

overlap boundaryA method of historical compilation and historical judgment in the outline-and-item format, reorganized using Sima Guang's Zizhi Tongjian as source material. It excludes the original historical events, Sima Guang's original work, later continuations, and all their political-educational effects.

Evidence gapsThe volume-by-volume author relationship between Zhu Xi and his students, posthumous editions, and textual variations remain unresolved/not verified. Moreover, the selection of historical facts and deviations in moral judgment have not yet been checked passage by passage.

Record year1175

summarySelecting and ordering scattered original texts into a systematic introductory reader oriented toward learners.

M rationaleM5.5 is assessed according to named dual-person compilation, cross-author selection of materials, and reusable introductory structure. It only takes credit for selection, ordering, and editorial residue; the intellectual value of the original texts remains attributed to the source authors.

attribution rationaleZhu Xi .20, Lü Zuqian .20, source text authors .30, collation and transmission .08, printing and transmission .07, unresolved .15.

overlap boundaryIn 1175, Zhu Xi and Lü Zuqian jointly compiled the *Jinsi Lu* (Reflections on Things at Hand) from the original texts of Northern Song Dao learning, forming a selected tool for self-cultivation and philosophical study. Excluded are the originality of the source texts, Zhu Xi's general philosophical system, and later pedagogical use.

Evidence gapsThe responsibility for the two editors' item-by-item selection and modification remains unresolved. The early versions, printing history, and reader usage history have not yet been fully verified.