Influence of Interaction: A Study of Zhu Xi’s Reading of the Taijitu Shuo and the Tongshu.

Zhu Xi, as a great leader of Neo-Confucianism, established the succession of the Way and raised Zhou Dunyi to the position of successor of Mencius. Zhu Xi drew attention to Zhou’s thought and wrote a commentary on hisTaijitu Shuo太極圖說 (Discussion of the Taiji Diagram) andTongshu通書 (Penetrating the Scripture of Change). During the process of annotating these two works, Zhu discussed the texts with scholars such as Li Tong, Lü Zuqian, Zhang Shi, and Lu Jiuyuan to improve his annotation. The suggestions from other scholars affected Zhu’s explanation of Zhou’s works. This essay studies the interaction between Zhu and his friends and attempts to explain how Zhu’s commentaries on theTaijitu ShuoandTongshuwere affected by other scholars’ suggestions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]