Cheng Hao
Encyclopedia
Chéng Hào styled Bochun , was a neo-Confucian
philosopher from Luoyang
, China
. In his youth, he and his younger brother Cheng Yi
were students of Zhou Dunyi, one of the architects of Neo-Confucian cosmology
.
, as an administrative clerk in Shangyuan County (an area now in Nanjing
), as an administrative director in Zezhou
, as well as a minister of ceremony, a Censor, a tax
and tariff
official, a ceremony minister to the military, and various other positions.
Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi were among the pioneers of Song Dynasty Neo-Confucianism, and they are often credited with its formal creation along with Zhu Xi
and several other scholars. The two brothers were sometimes referred to as "The Two Chengs" , or individually as "Cheng the Elder" and "Cheng the Younger" . They dealt extensively with cosmology in their studies, applying Neo-Confucian principles to their studies of celestial bodies. In particular, the brothers identified and applied the principle of Divine or Natural Order, called li
, to that of Tian
, the Heavens, as their original and guiding power. Hao established schools at Fugou and Songyang (in modern Dengfeng
). Throughout his life he promoted the view that study and scholarship were means to making men sages, once writing: "The studies of a superior man must arrive at sagacity [sage-hood] and then upon his own intellect; in the case of not arriving at sage-hood but upon his own intellect, all is lost." Hao died in 1085 at the age of fifty-three.
, and Sima Guang
became known as "The Six Masters of Northern Song" for their philosophical contributions.
Hao also received several posthumous titles: in 1220 he was given the posthumous name
"Lord of Purity" by the emperor. In 1241 he was given the posthumous title of "Bo [Earl] of Henan
". In 1330, an imperial decree made Hao the posthumous "Lord of Yu Kingdom [Henan]".
Neo-Confucianism
Neo-Confucianism is an ethical and metaphysical Chinese philosophy influenced by Confucianism, that was primarily developed during the Song Dynasty and Ming Dynasty, but which can be traced back to Han Yu and Li Ao in the Tang Dynasty....
philosopher from Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. In his youth, he and his younger brother Cheng Yi
Cheng Yi (philosopher)
Cheng Yi , courtesy name Zhengshu , also known as Mr. Yichuan , was a Chinese philosopher born in Luoyang during the Song Dynasty. He worked with his older brother Cheng Hao . Like his brother, he was a student of Zhou Dunyi, a friend of Shao Yong, and a nephew of Zhang Zai...
were students of Zhou Dunyi, one of the architects of Neo-Confucian cosmology
Cosmology
Cosmology is the discipline that deals with the nature of the Universe as a whole. Cosmologists seek to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and ultimate fate of the Universe at large, as well as the natural laws that keep it in order...
.
Life
Hao's grandfather was a county magistrate in Huangpi and died there while in that capacity. Hao's father Cheng Xiang was still young at the time and was unable to return to Luoyang, so he was forced to grow up in Huangpi instead. He later became county detective , at which time his two sons Hao and Yi were born. In 1057 Hao passed the Imperial examinations and became an entered scholar. He successively served as an administrative clerk in Hu County, ShaanxiShaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
, as an administrative clerk in Shangyuan County (an area now in Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
), as an administrative director in Zezhou
Zezhou County
Zezhou County is a county of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Jincheng city.-References:*...
, as well as a minister of ceremony, a Censor, a tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
and tariff
Tariff
A tariff may be either tax on imports or exports , or a list or schedule of prices for such things as rail service, bus routes, and electrical usage ....
official, a ceremony minister to the military, and various other positions.
Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi were among the pioneers of Song Dynasty Neo-Confucianism, and they are often credited with its formal creation along with Zhu Xi
Zhu Xi
Zhū Xī or Chu Hsi was a Song Dynasty Confucian scholar who became the leading figure of the School of Principle and the most influential rationalist Neo-Confucian in China...
and several other scholars. The two brothers were sometimes referred to as "The Two Chengs" , or individually as "Cheng the Elder" and "Cheng the Younger" . They dealt extensively with cosmology in their studies, applying Neo-Confucian principles to their studies of celestial bodies. In particular, the brothers identified and applied the principle of Divine or Natural Order, called li
Li (Neo-Confucianism)
Li （理）is a concept found in Neo-Confucian Chinese philosophy.It refers to the underlying reason and order of nature as reflected in its organic forms....
, to that of Tian
Tian
Tian is one of the oldest Chinese terms for the cosmos and a key concept in Chinese mythology, philosophy, and religion. During the Shang Dynasty the Chinese called god Shangdi or Di , and during the Zhou Dynasty Tian "heaven; god" became synonymous with Shangdi...
, the Heavens, as their original and guiding power. Hao established schools at Fugou and Songyang (in modern Dengfeng
Dengfeng
Dengfeng is a county-level city in Zhengzhou, Henan province. In ancient times, it was known as Yangcheng .Dengfeng has an area of 1220 square kilometers and a population of 630,000....
). Throughout his life he promoted the view that study and scholarship were means to making men sages, once writing: "The studies of a superior man must arrive at sagacity [sage-hood] and then upon his own intellect; in the case of not arriving at sage-hood but upon his own intellect, all is lost." Hao died in 1085 at the age of fifty-three.
Legacy
Hao was known as an outgoing, laid-back, and lively man, in contrast to his stern and severe younger brother. As Neo-Confucianism's popularity grew throughout the early second millennium AD, the two Cheng brothers along with Zhou Dunyi, Zhang Zai, Shao YongShao Yong
Shao Yong , courtesy name Yaofu , named Shào Kāngjié after death, was a Song Dynasty Chinese philosopher, cosmologist, poet and historian who greatly influenced the development of Neo-Confucianism in China....
, and Sima Guang
Sima Guang
Sīmǎ Guāng was a Chinese historian, scholar, and high chancellor of the Song Dynasty, jinshi 1038.-Life, profession, and works:...
became known as "The Six Masters of Northern Song" for their philosophical contributions.
Hao also received several posthumous titles: in 1220 he was given the posthumous name
Posthumous name
A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life...
"Lord of Purity" by the emperor. In 1241 he was given the posthumous title of "Bo [Earl] of Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
". In 1330, an imperial decree made Hao the posthumous "Lord of Yu Kingdom [Henan]".