Author(s)

Mingyang Liu ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ School of Philosophy and Sociology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China

Corresponding Author

Mingyang Liu

ABSTRACT

As one of the Confucian classics, "The Great Learning" holds significant value and a distinguished status. Its theory of moral cultivation ("gongfu" theory) is not only regarded as the core of Confucian learning but has also occupied a central position in philosophical inquiry—from the rise of Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty through the innovation of the School of Mind in the Ming Dynasty. The Cheng brothers (Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi) of the Song Dynasty elevated "The Great Learning", "The Doctrine of the Mean", "The Analects", and "Mencius" to equal standing. During the Southern Song period, Zhu Xi compiled his commentaries on these texts into the "Collected Commentaries on the Four Books". Zhu Xi's work later gained the confidence and high regard of Emperor Lizong of Song, and Zhu Xi himself was posthumously awarded the title of Grand Preceptor and granted the honor of being venerated in the Confucius Temple. In the Yuan Dynasty, "the Four Books" became the content and standard for the imperial civil service examinations; the Ming Dynasty continued this tradition, which persisted until the imperial examination system was abolished at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Throughout these several centuries, the ritual norms and ethical teachings of "the Four Books" continuously guided the intellectual foundations and conduct of the literati.

KEYWORDS

The Great Learning; "gongfu" theory (self-cultivation); Three Guiding Principles; Eight Steps

CITE THIS PAPER

Mingyang Liu. The "Gongfu" Theory in The Great Learning: A Philosophical Inquiry. Philosophy Journal (2026). Vol. 5, No.1, 64-72. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/phij.2026.050109.

REFERENCES

[1] Zhu, Xi (Song Dynasty). Collected Commentaries on the Four Books in Chapters and Verses (Sishu Zhangju Jizhu). Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 2012.3;4;7;8;9;10.
[2] Lu, Yongsheng, trans. and annot. Instructions for Practical Living (Chuanxi Lu). Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 2021.11;145;219;296.
[3] Zheng, Xuan (Han Dynasty), and Kong Yingda (Tang Dynasty). Book of Rites with Commentaries and Subcommentaries, with Pronunciation Guide (Fu Shiyin Liji Zhushu), Vol. 60. Collated and engraved by Ruan Yuan (Qing Dynasty). Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 1980.286.

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