Lu Jiuyuan

Lu Jiuyuan (1139–1192), or Lu Xiangshan, was a Chinese philosopher and writer who founded the school of the universal mind, the second most influential Neo-Confucian school. He was a contemporary and the main rival of Zhu Xi. In East Asia and the Western World, he is known by his honorific name rather than his private name. Lu's philosophy of the mind emphasizes the unity of the mind and the Way, stating that the universe is the mind and the mind is the universe. This contrasts with Zhu Xi's view of separate minds. Lu also developed Mencius' concept of the original mind, asserting that all humans are born with innate moral knowledge and virtue. His philosophy was influenced by Buddhism and Daoism, incorporating concepts of spontaneity and simplicity. Though not widely followed in China initially, his ideas were later revived and expanded by Wang Yangming, forming the Lu-Wang school. The school had a greater influence in Japan than in China due to political and educational systems.