Lu Jiuyuan's Parenting Methods

A Distinguished Educator of the Southern Song Dynasty

Lu Jiuyuan (陸九淵), a prominent Neo-Confucian scholar of the Southern Song Dynasty, is recognized as a key founder of the Yangming School of Philosophy (陽明學). Born into a large family spanning nine generations, Lu demonstrated exceptional intelligence from an early age and showed a deep curiosity about fundamental principles. As a local official, he devoted himself to nurturing future generations as an educator. Although he advocated resistance against the Jin Dynasty, his views clashed with the pro-peace faction, leading to his demotion to a remote post. There, he focused on building schools and educating students, dedicating himself to academic lectures and the pursuit of educational endeavors. This article delves into Lu Jiuyuan's unique philosophy of educating children.

Lu Jiuyuan, a Neo-Confucian Scholar of the Southern Song Dynasty and Founder of the Yangming School of Philosophy

Fostering Independent Thinking Through Questioning

Lu Jiuyuan once said, "In the pursuit of learning, the lack of doubt should be a cause for concern. Doubt propels progress. Small doubts lead to small progress; great doubts lead to great progress." This highlights the importance of questioning in learning. Just as Mencius' mother emphasized that blindly believing everything in books is worse than having no books, Lu believed that true understanding requires introspection and critical thinking. Modern students often accept information at face value without verifying its accuracy, assuming teachers' lessons are always correct. Such passivity ultimately hinders personal growth. Lu's philosophy underscores the need to question what we learn and ensure its validity.

Encouraging Thoughtful Questions and Independent Exploration

Learners naturally ask questions when doubts arise. However, before posing questions to others, Lu advised his students to first reflect on why these doubts emerged. By delving deeper into their thoughts, students often reach questions that are challenging to resolve on their own. Lu encouraged his children to formulate thoughtful questions and praised them when they did so, offering guidance that allowed them to pursue answers independently. His teaching methods laid the foundation for the Yangming School of Philosophy and the Lu-Wang School (陸王學派). For Lu, education was not about simply raising questions but about fostering the ability to inquire deeply and seek knowledge from teachers with a well-formed perspective.

Lu Jiuyuan, a renowned scholar of the Southern Song Dynasty, devoted his life to strengthening the nation through education. He urged his children and disciples to question relentlessly and seek well-crafted inquiries that would lead them to profound learning and wisdom.

 

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