Zhu Xi and East Asian Confucianism

With the aim of strengthening in-depth research on Confucianism in Vietnam, on August 24th, the Center for Chinese Studies of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities organized a scientific conference entitled "Zhu Xi and East Asian Confucianism".Ten papers, the result of in-depth research on Zhu Xi, were presented at the conference by researchers from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) and National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan). The papers focused primarily on the influence of Zhu Xi – a philosopher, educator, writer, and poet of the Southern Song Dynasty in China – on East Asia in general and Vietnam in particular, across various fields: literature, history, economics, philosophy, ethics, etc. Associate Professor Dr. Dinh Khac Thuan presented his paper...Zhu Xi's works were introduced and circulated in Vietnam.The paper indicates that Zhu Xi's works on classical thought and commentary were introduced and had a profound influence in Vietnam during the Le-Nguyen period (15th-early 20th centuries). The paper presented incomplete data on approximately 30 titles of works and documents about Zhu Xi that still exist in Vietnam, including works by Zhu Xi printed and copied in Vietnam, as well as works by Vietnamese scholars who collected, quoted, or researched Zhu Xi's works, and provided commentary and annotations in Nom script. Associate Professor Dr. Dinh Khac Thuan suggested that it is necessary to promptly collect all of Zhu Xi's works in Vietnam and simultaneously classify and compare similar texts by Zhu Xi and Vietnamese scholars, as well as the influence of Zhu Xi's thought and methods of compiling books in Vietnam during the Le-Nguyen period. Ms. Pham Van Dung, in her paper,From the Complete Elementary School of Zi Zhu Zi to the Abridged Elementary School of Zi Zhu Zi and the Influence of Zhu Xi as Received by 19th-Century Vietnamese Confucian Scholars"This section then analyzes in detail the influence and reception of Zhu Xi's system of commentaries on Confucian classics in Vietnam through the introduction and examination of two books, 'Zi Zhu Zi Xiao Xue Quan Shu' and 'Zi Zhu Zi Xiao Xue Lue Bian,' one compiled by Zhu Xi and the other abridged by Vietnamese Confucian scholars. In addition, several other reports highlight Zhu Xi's influence in many fields through some typical works and documents, specifically:"Characters and events of the intellectual process of Zhu Xi and Song Neo-Confucianism influencing Vietnam in the 14th - early 15th centuries - positioning and analysis"– Nguyen Kim Son;The evolution of Zhu Xi's studies in Vietnam: From the commentary on the Four Books to the simplified explanation of the Four Books.- Nguyen Tuan Cuong,"The concept of 'image' and 'inference': Zhu Zi's interpretation of 'image' in the Xi Jing Lai Trach"- Bui Ba Quan,"Exploring the evaluation of Zhu Xi and Lu Jiu Yuan through the scholarly works of Le Quy Don"- Le Phuong Duy,"The Văn Công Family Rituals - From the 'Five Attires': Examining the Influence of the Văn Công Family Rituals on the Thọ Mai Family Rituals"- Pham Thi Huong,"The trend of combining the I Ching and Zhou dynasties in East Asian classical studies"- Nguyen Phuc Anh. Delegates Lam Trieu Thanh and Tran Ich Nguyen (National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan) presented papers on “Discussing ethics in the context of the hexagrams and lines of the I Ching, specifically the commentary by Zhu Xi." and "Vietnamese Confucian scholar Li Wenfu and his preface to "Exhibiting the Name of the Tu Duong Library".Affirming the necessity of objective research to reveal the true extent of Zhu Xi's influence on Vietnam, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Kim Son - Vice Rector of the University - emphasized: “Zhu Xi is the second greatest figure after Confucius in terms of his contributions to the development of Confucianism in China and the region. We cannot deeply understand Vietnamese Confucianism without a thorough understanding of Confucius, Mencius, Cheng, and Zhu. Studying Zhu Xi primarily serves the study of Vietnamese Confucianism. In Vietnam, from the 14th century to the end of the 19th century, Zhu Xi's thought dominated the academic world and had a tremendous influence.” A larger-scale conference on Zhu Xi and East Asian Confucianism, with the participation of more researchers from both within and outside the country, is planned to be held next year.