"Four Words"
Zhang Zai of the Northern Song Dynasty
Establish a heart for the world and a destiny for the people.
To carry on the unique knowledge to the saints and create peace for all generations.
Meaning:
Through human understanding and guidance, the mind that generates and transforms all things in heaven and earth is revealed, so that living people have a basis for their lives, and the knowledge of heaven and life becomes inner sage. The teaching of virtue has reappeared in the world, creating boundless beauty for the human world.
Zhang Zai (1020-1077), courtesy name Zihou, was a thinker, educator and one of the founders of Neo-Confucianism in the Northern Song Dynasty. He is known as Mr. Hengqu in the world, and is honored as Zhang Zi. He is honored as a sage and is enshrined in the 38th west veranda of the Confucius Temple. Zhang Zai was fond of discussing the art of war when he was young, and later studied the "Six Classics" of Confucianism. He once served as Zuo Lang and Chongwen Academy Secretary.
Later he resigned and returned to give lectures in Guanzhong, so his school was called "Guan Xue". In the tenth year of Xining (1077), Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty, he died of illness in Lintong on his way home at the age of 58. Zhang Zai, Zhou Dunyi, Shao Yong, Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao are collectively known as the "Five Sons of the Northern Song Dynasty", and their works such as "Zheng Meng" and "Hengqu Yi Shuo" have survived.