1130-1200
Scholar

Early Life. Zhu Xi was one of the most important scholars of the Song dynasty (960-1279). He was a prolific writer, and he helped to clarify the institutional development of the family and women's social life in Zhu Zi jia Li (Book of Family Rites). Born into a literary family in Fujian province, Zhu Xi was the son of a district magistrate. At the age of eighteen he won his Jinshi degree and thereafter spent most of his life in a succession of government positions. Some positions required much activity, which helped him to improve his administrative ability; others were less demanding, such as serving as a temple guardian, which gave him plentiful leisure time for learning, writing, and teaching. Following his extensive philosophic and literary pursuits, he taught many pupils who gathered about him.

Court Official. He was offered several official positions in...