程颐

Cheng Yi was a Neo-Confucian philosopher of the Northern Song dynasty, often mentioned together with his elder brother Cheng Hao as the "Two Chengs." Public information available here is limited regarding his nationality, dates of birth and death, and specific life experiences, so this page makes no inferences on those points. Three works are currently listed: the two-volume Complete Works of the Two Chengs, the Tian Di Ren Series, and the Surviving Writings of the Two Chengs. All fall under Eastern philosophy and center on Neo-Confucian themes such as heavenly principle, human nature, and self-cultivation, presenting his thought through recorded sayings, letters, and discursive writings. His style is plain and rigorous, emphasizing the analysis of principle rather than elaborate exposition, with concise sentences that retain the tone of teaching and dialogue. These texts are important sources for understanding Song-dynasty Neo-Confucianism and had a profound influence on later Confucian thought, making them suitable for readers interested in the history of Chinese philosophy and intellectual history.