Song thinker whose short essay 爱莲说 praises the lotus for rising out of the mud unstained, a text Chinese pupils learn by heart. His writings laid the groundwork for 理学, Song Neo-Confucianism.
In 'On Loving the Lotus', Zhou Dunyi praises the lotus for rising 'from the mud unstained'.
Tips
culture
His 爱莲说 ranks three flowers: the chrysanthemum of the recluse 陶渊明, the peony loved by all since the Tang, and the lotus, the gentleman. Its phrase 出淤泥而不染 'rises from the mud unstained' is now an idiom for staying honest in corrupt surroundings.
history
His name was changed twice to avoid emperors' names: he swapped 实 for 颐 because Emperor Yingzong's original name held it, and after his death his 惇 was written 敦 for Emperor Guangzong, 赵惇. As boys, 程颢 and 程颐 studied with him.
