Who is most associated with Neo-Confucianism?

• A. Zhu Xi
• B. Han Fei
• C. Laozi
• D. Xuan Zang

Answer: (A)

Neo-Confucianism blends Confucian ethics with philosophical inquiry into reality and knowledge. Zhu Xi is the philosopher who most shaped this tradition. A Song dynasty thinker, he framed a clear system around li, the universal principle, and qi, the material force, arguing that moral life comes from aligning one’s inner nature with these principles discovered through disciplined reflection and the investigation of things (gewu). He also produced influential commentaries and promoted the Four Books as the standard Confucian curriculum, cementing Neo-Confucian doctrine and its authority for centuries. In contrast, Han Fei is tied to Legalism, Laozi to Daoism, and Xuan Zang to Buddhist translation. Because of Zhu Xi’s comprehensive theory and lasting educational influence, he is most associated with Neo-Confucianism.