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The Jinsilu 近思錄 "Near thoughts" is a Neo-Confucian treatise written by the Southern Song period 南宋 (1127-1279) scholars Zhu Xi 朱熹 and Lü Zuqian 呂祖謙 (1137-1181). The idea to the book gained shape during a visit of Lü by Zhu Xi. Both read the writings of the Neo-Confucians Zhou Dunyi 周敦頤, Zhang Zai 張載 and the brothers Cheng Hao 程顥 and Cheng Yi 程頤 and found, that a beginner would not be able to perceive the real meaning. For this reason, they started compiling a book which in simple words would serve as a daily-to-use guideline to Neo-Confucian thought. The Jinsilu is 14 juan "scrolls" long and included 14 chapters. The title is derived from a sentence in the Lunyu 論語, where Xizia 子夏, a disciple of Confucius, is approaching knowledge by asking further and further questions. The Jinsilu is an important work presenting a resummé of the Song period Confucians' view of the human reason and nature (xinglixue 性理學). A thorough investigation of things (gewu 格物) will lead to the perception of the Heavenly principle (tianli 天理) inherent in all things. In this concept, man has not to follow the actual circumstances of one matter, but he has to become aware that he is part of a wide-ranging natural concept, which embraces all objects of the universe. By the investigation of the reason of all things, the scholar will become aware of Heaven's will, which is always good by nature. Once aware of this, this knowledge has to be transformed into practical behaviour in society and politics, concretely spoken, into the adequate behaviour within the social context, and in case of a ruler, benevolent government. The investigation of things and matters is not meant as a scientific research, but as an inner view of the meaning of all things in regard to the universe. A man wanting to achieve this knowledge has thus to search inside his heart, in a very near place (jin 近). This is possible, because the Heavenly principle is also immanent in the own self.
Source: Li Xueqin 李學勤, Lü Wenyu 呂文鬰 (1996). Siku da cidian 四庫大辭典, vol. 2, p. 1552. Changchun: Jilin daxue chubanshe.
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