Who's Li Zhi? What are the deeds and thoughts?

Li Zhi (1527 ~ 1602) was an official, thinker and writer in Ming Dynasty, and he was a master of Taizhou School. At first, his surname was Lin and his first name was Zhi. Later, he changed his surname to Li, whose name was Hongfu, whose name was Zhuowu, and his nickname was Wenling Jushi and Baiquan Jushi. Jiajing thirty-one years, not to try. Calendar * * * city magistrate of a county, Dr. imperial academy, Wanli for Yao An magistrate. Abandon officials and stay in Huang An and Macheng. When giving lectures in Macheng, thousands of believers, with mixed qualities, traveled to and from Beijing and other places in the north and south in their later years and were falsely accused, imprisoned and hanged. Li Zhi is the author of Burning Books, Continued Burning Books and Collection of Books.

all one's life

Li Zhi was born in the sixth year of Jiajing (1527) on October 26th, outside the south gate of Quanzhou, Fujian. Formerly known as Lin Zaizhi. Because Quanzhou Qingyuan Yingzhou and Tongzong had different surnames, his great-grandfather changed his surname from Li. In the thirty-fifth year of Jiajing, in order to avoid taboo, he was named straight (the same as Hou). Li Zhi used many names in his life, including solo dance, Baiquan layman, Hongfu, Sizhai, Longhusao, Bald Weng and so on. Lv Lin Lin Muzhai, the ancestor of Li Zhi, entered Fujian from Henan at the end of Yuan Dynasty to escape the war. The second ancestor, Lin Yilin Donghu, was a navigator and businessman who often traveled between the port of Erythrina and the Persian Gulf. As a result of marrying Persian women, there are Iranian believers in the family, that is, China men married Middle Eastern women. By the time Li Zhi's father, Lin Baizhai, the family's faith had been shaken by his great-grandmother's faith.

Although Li Zhi became a monk, Buddhism was not his only belief. Fundamentally speaking, Li Zhi's belief is the coexistence of three religions, based on Confucianism.

Li Zhi has been stubborn since he was a child. "If you don't believe in Taoism, you don't believe in immortals and Buddhism, so people who look at Taoism are evil, monks are evil, and teachers who look at Taoism are especially evil." /kloc-started writing at the age of 0/2, refuting Confucius' view that farmers are "villains". As for Li Zhi's knowledge as a teenager, there is the following account: "I have governed foreigners since childhood, changed it to courtesy, and decided the interests of my subjects with less courtesy." In fourteen years, he changed the rule of Shangshu and even stole Lu from Shangshu. However, it is easy to read. "("Li Wenji Volume One by One ") Jiajing was thirty years old. At the age of twenty-six, he was admitted to Fujian after having obtained the examination. In the thirty-fifth year of Jiajing (1556), he was granted the imperial edict of Henan * * * City. In 30 * 9 * years, Dr. imperial academy was promoted to Nanjing. A few months later, my father, Bai Zhai Gong, died in Quanzhou and went back to his hometown to keep the system. When the enemy attacked the city, he led his younger brother and nephew to patrol the city day and night, as close as enemies. In forty-two years, Jiajing was appointed as Dr. imperial academy from Beijing. After serving for three years, I tried my best to go to Beijing ... I lived in Beijing for ten months and didn't want to miss it. This is a fake museum. Ten months later, the museum was deserted. Call Mr Guo Zi an old official. "

In the fourth year of Qin Long (1570), he was transferred to Nanjing as a member of the criminal department, and he went to Wanli for five years (15┐┐) and * * for seven years. In the past seven years, I met director Geng and Ding Lihe. Later, Geng's false way was exposed, and Li Zhi had an argument with him. As for Li Zhi's orientation to Geng's younger brother, the orientation student has always been his friend. In Du Nan, Li Zhi met Wang Shouren's younger brother Wang Ji and Luo Rufang of Taizhou School. Li Zhi has great respect for Wang and Luo. The focus of this period is that Li Zhi studied under Wang Zhi, a scholar of Taizhou School. Wang Gen's son, Wang You, is a young man who has heard of the court training. Wang Gen gave lectures in Huainan and Wang You was around for a long time. He gave full play to the theory of "happy learning". In the fifth year of Wanli (15┐┐), he became the magistrate of Yao 'an, Yunnan, and still gave lectures in his spare time. His official principles are "keep everything simple, let nature take its course, and do things with morality" and "treat yourself with hardships and do things for the public". He also wrote two couplets on the official post. One is: from my hometown, the two places are devastated; After being a soldier, every family always cares about their sufferings. "The second one is:" If you have more time to listen to politics, you might as well transport Taozhai and plant flowers in Panxian; There is nothing to be an official, only this court is clean and white. "Yuan Zhongdao's biography of Li Wenling, at this time," law * make it simple, without words and governance. Every time I went to Galand, I was sentenced to official business, sitting on the throne of the emperor or being named a monk. There is a gap in the book, which is illusory with the reference object, and everyone blames it. "It's quite like Luo Rufang's style. At that time, there were many ethnic minorities in the border areas of Yunnan, which were carved by Shangguan Yan. He said, "The foreigners in the border areas are mixed and it is difficult to enforce the law. At the end of the day, it is enough to enjoy peace with the army and foreigners. "(I burned books all my life and made four promises emotionally). After three years as an official, Yao hated writing books. Yuan Zhongdao remembered that he was "tired of Guangxi Group for a long time, so he went into the mountain of chicken feet, hid himself after reading the dragon, and couldn't get out. "Liu Weiqi's discussion of the festival, sparse order to return to the official."

Li Zhi's official life of more than 20 years has made him deeply feel the pain of being controlled. "Yu Siyue Burning Books" said with emotion all his life: "The reason why I suffer from this is only because I lost control, and my life is bumpy. I turned the earth into ink, which is difficult to write. " Being a county doctor is to contact the county magistrate and promote learning. Being a doctor of Imperial College means being exposed to the provision and companionship of wine. ....., that is, with Gao Shangshu, Yin Shangshu, Assistant Minister Wang and Assistant Minister. ..... The most bitter person is Yuan Wailang, who is not thanked by Shangshu, Dong Qing of Dali and Wang Yi. ..... and the encounter with Zhao Shangshu is the most tragic. Zhao Yudao is famous for his scholarship. Who knows * Xueyi is famous, and my touch is also very good. Finally, the chief, that is, contact with the governor Wang and the guardian Luo. ..... The rest of my life is also bumpy. "This is a summary of many years of officialdom life, reflecting the conflict with the boss everywhere. This contradiction is essentially Li Zhi's anti-feudalism and anti-feudalism. After being removed from office, he did not go back to his hometown, but took his wife and daughter to Huang An, Hubei. Claiming: "I am old and have made one or two friends. The rest of the time is the fastest to communicate with each other. Why go home? "In the year before Li Zhi resigned and entered Yunnan, in the seventh year of Wanli (1579), He Yinxin was arrested and killed by Wang Zhiyuan of the Chu government. Li Zhi was very angry about it. He wrote two articles about why he was wronged and expressed his admiration for him. Later, he mentioned in a letter to him, saying, "Why do you say you are an old hero? "... look at its fetters, confused by the book, rolling in a thousand words, without a trace of begging for mercy, such as complaining like a play, if idle. I read his article today and want to see him. His article is ingenious, and not a word attacks his predecessors. I haven't seen this passage before, but I read it in detail. I wonder if the viewer is moved. I send you the second draft, and I am eager to enjoy it. There are two articles about what mentioned in the letter, and there is one article about what in Volume 3 of Burning Books. The other one, never seen it. Book Burning Volume VI presented a five-line poem to Brother He's son: "Three trips in three days, why is Hu Sheng busy?" Brother Shi is too kind to see the P5. "This poem is considered to be Huang Anshi's first visit after his dismissal in Yunnan, which shows his sympathy for He and his brother. Li Zhi never had a chance to know him in his life. In his book A History of Jiao Yuan, he said with regret: "My brother is in Du Nan, and I have never seen such a person. Is it my brother's fault and I'm not detailed? "If this person is not yet human, then the world is more unparalleled in ancient and modern times. What is known?" (burning books, volume one).

In the spring of the ninth year of Wanli (158 1), after Li Zhi abandoned his official position, he took his wife and daughter to give lectures at Tiantai Academy in Geng's hometown and lived in Geng Dingli's home as a guest teacher. However, he and Geng Dingli's brother, who is a senior official, have a sudden conflict of opinion. In Li Zhi's view, Geng's position is homesickness and a representative figure of pseudo-Taoism. After the death of Geng Dingli in the twelfth year of Wanli, it was impossible to live in Huang Angeng's house. When Geng Dingli died, Li Zhi had five long poems and three weeping Gengziyong. In the eleventh year of Wanli, Wang Ji died, and Li also wrote a letter to Mr. Wang Longxi, expressing his admiration for Wang Ji. For example, he called Wang Ji "Confucianism in the heyday, which turned a blind eye to heaven and man" and said, "Now that Mr. Wang is gone, what will Yu Xiaozi admire?" In October of the 12th year of Wanli (1584), Li Zhi moved the capital from Huang An to Macheng, and returned without a library. In March of the following year, he settled in Zhifu Hospital near Longtan Lake in Macheng. Longtan is thirty miles away from the city, so it is not easy for ordinary people to walk. From then on, he quietly read books and gave lectures to people he knew. When he moved to Macheng, Li Zhi sent his wife and daughter back to Fujian and lived in Zhifu Hospital in longtan lake, Macheng. He has been reading and writing books for nearly 20 * 10 years, and has completed Chu Tan Ji, Burning Books and other works. After repeatedly arguing with Taoist scholar Geng, he wrote six volumes of books, articles, history and poems, such as Answering Geng Zhongcheng and Answering Geng Sikou. Expose the false face of Taoist scholars, oppose Confucius' view of right and wrong as the standard of right and wrong, and criticize Dali scholars Zhou Dunyi, Cheng Hao, Zhang Zai, Zhu and others in the Song Dynasty. Li Zhi advocated "childlike innocence", which is absolutely true. Li Zhi also gave lectures in Macheng for many times, criticizing current politics and current abuses, and allowed men and women from all walks of life to attend classes, which was warmly welcomed.

In the 16th year of Wanli (1588), he shaved his head in summer to show his elegance. Although he entered an empty door, he did not accept the precepts or participate in the prayers of monks. This had a strong impact on traditional ideas, and was regarded as "heresy" and "heresy" by local conservative forces, which gathered around him, attacked him and deported him. Li Zhi clearly declared that his works were "deviant works", saying: "I can't kill, my head can be broken, and my body can't be humiliated" and didn't flinch. He loves cleanliness, his clothes are spotless, and he often sweeps the floor, so that "few people will give them brooms." "Get together with five-year-old monks, Zhou, Zhou and Qiu, press the button behind closed doors and study every day. It is extremely fresh and clean after washing. Brush your face and body. You don't like vulgar guests, they will be resigned to their fate, but once they fight, you will make them sit far away and feel stinky. Its reward, the town laughs every day. No meaning, no words. Funny arrangement, blurting out, can not only relieve the pain, but also be bitten. All of them are copied as rare books, oriental secret language, western spiritual language, poems by Li Sao, Ma and Ban, poems by Tao, Xie, Liu and Du, strange books by officials, songs by celebrities in Song and Yuan Dynasties, and pens by Xue Tengdan, which are proofread word for word. It is the unique scenery in its chest, which is awe-inspiring and cannot be stared at. There are not many poems, but there are great gods. "

In the year of Wanli * 10th * 1st * (1593), Li Zhi met three brothers, Yuan Zongdao, Yuan Hongdao and Yuan Zhongdao, who were against the idea of literary retro at that time. The following year, Yuan Hongdao visited Li Zhi in Macheng again, and they went to Wuchang together. Yuan Hongdao's Biography of Public Security County said: "I heard about Li Lao in Longhu, and I knew the purpose of teaching others. I took Xiling as my essence. Li Laoda matched each other and presented poems. ..... stay for more than three months, talk about it and send it to Wuchang. " Yuan Hongdao's brother Yuan Zongdao also expressed his admiration for Li Zhi and thought that Li Zhi could understand him. In his reply to Xin Li, he said, "It's amazing not to read other people's words. Watching Weng's movies is full of spirit. Is it because I have been used to it for a long time? " There are always messengers in the clouds. Fortunately, I often send it in recent days, as good as an old maid in the White House. I can read and understand. "("Collected Works of Su Su Zhai ",Volume 15) In the 23rd year of Wanli (1595), Yuan Zongdao paid tribute to Li Zhi, and even more praised him:" Weng will be seventy next year, and all his friends will learn Taoism. * * * Give him a silk to congratulate him. The older guy gets, the greater his achievement, which is one of the congratulations. Live one more day, live one more day, which can be congratulated. " ("Bai Su Zhai Lei Ji" Volume 16 Li * Hongfu)

In the 25th year of Wanli (1597), Li Zhi went to Datong, Shanxi Province at the invitation of Governor Mei Guozhen, wrote "Sun * Zi Ke Yu" and revised "Collection of Books". Mei Guozhen is a Macheng native and one of Li Zhi's friends. Teacher Lian Ran in Li Zhi's Guanyin Wen is Mei's daughter. "Biography of Mei Dazhong in Yuan Zhongdao" records him: "If you taste it, your life will suit your ears, and you will follow the track, and your name will be cool." Also known as "women are widows, and men can't help it." However, the forbearance method is very strict, and it is also quite difficult to ask if there is any way to write letters between father and son. "In the autumn of the same year, I went to Beijing, lived in the bliss of Xishan, and wrote Pure Land Tactics. At this time, Xin ran over. In the 22nd year of Wanli, Prince Wan came to Longhu to ask about learning, and stayed with him for nine years until Li Zhi died. In prison, Li finally gave a poem to Wang Yi: "My son cried and cried for nine years, which is really wonderful." . In the 46th year of Wanli (16 18), sixteen years after Li Zhi's death, Wang edited Li Zhi's letters and poems in his later years and continued to burn books. In the preface of the book, Wang commented on Li Zhi's thoughts as follows: "I traveled with my husband for nine years and what I learned." Without the cymbals that have been calling Mr. Shi for a long time, and without the cymbals that should know the truth about Mr. Shi, how could Gu Yue know about Mr. Zai? Then Mr. Wang knows it himself, and Mr. Wang knows it all over the world. Mr. Wang has never read a book, been pregnant or vomited in his life. They all study, and they will not be insatiable when they are hungry and thirsty; Throw up, don't throw up until you choke. Pretending to be right and wrong in the world and teaching in the name of the world are more than just laughing and cursing. Gai's words are true, and every word is earth-shattering, which can make the deaf wise, the dreamer awake, the awakened one awake, the sick one living dead, the impatient one heartbroken, the cold one firewood one stubborn one. "

In the 26th year of Wanli (1598), Li Zhi was seventy-two years old. He was still in Beijing in the spring, and the following spring he went to Nanjing with Jiao Hong, who was also in Beijing. He merged his sporadic works into A Passage to an Old Friend, re-studied Yi, wrote Yi Yin, and finally compiled his masterpiece Collection of Books. The book, with a total of 68 volumes, is a biographical work on historical theory. This paper discusses about 800 historical figures from the Warring States to the demise of the Yuan Dynasty, and makes an evaluation of historical figures that is inconsistent with the traditional view, aiming at opposing Confucianism. For example, he praised Qin Shihuang as an "emperor through the ages" and Wu Zetian as a "sage queen" who "ruled by herself, observed by herself and judged by herself". In his Book with Wei Jiao, Li Zhi simply revealed the situation when collecting books: "There are no companions in the mountains, so I always read history books so that I can have fun with others." Doesn't mean you are interested in erudition and macro words. It is not only impressive to say that the latter is the Great Sage, but also has a long history. Its spirit is unique and enviable. True sages can't help being carefully selected. Or celebrate with a floating name, but it's boring. How many wrongs have been done since ancient times? Who has anything to do with snow? So when reading history, it's really like being enemies with millions of people. Once confronted, it is natural to be beheaded as a prisoner, which is extremely unique and difficult to distinguish. "("Continued Burning Books "Volume I and" Wei Jiao Hou Shu ") Li Zhi spoke highly of the collection of books. He said: "The collection of books has been completed. ..... the next Fu Zi. If you don't play catalpa, the world will have its own catalpa. Cover this book for me. NINEONE's Book of World Peace should be read after the banquet. It should be an elective exam and unnatural. " (Continued to burn the book volume 1 and Geng Zijian's book)

In the 28th year of Wanli (1600), Mr. Yang Ming's Tao * Learning Copy and Mr. Yang Ming's Chronicle were compiled in Jining, Shandong. From twenty-five years of Wanli (1597) to twenty-eight years (1600), he traveled to Shanxi, Tongzhou, Jining, Nanjing and other places. I met Matteo Ricci twice in Jining and Nanjing to discuss the significance of teaching. Back to Macheng in 28 years. In the winter of the same year, Feng Yingjing, a Taoist priest in Huguang, ordered evil disciples to burn down the Zhifu Temple in Longhu and destroy the tomb tower where he had planned to hide bones. Li Zhi was forced to stay in Huangbaishan, Shangcheng County, northeast of Macheng. In 20 * 9 *, the dismissed horse heard the news and took Li Zhi from Tongzhou to live in Lianhua Temple. Thirty years of Wanli (1602), Li Zhi was seventy-six. In the spring of February, the last words were covered with white cloth and buried in a pit, which seemed to be a funeral service. In the same year, does zhangwenda adhering to the records of shen's will, play and attack Li Zhi. In the end, Li Zhi was arrested in Tongzhou, charged with "dare to instigate chaos, mislead the world and slander the people", and his works were burned. Li Zhi after entering * prison, "tomorrow, Daikin will send a message. The waiter tucked himself in and lay on the steps. Jin Wu said,' If you write a book for nothing?' Gong said:' sinners write a lot of books, which is good for the holy religion!' Dajinwu laughed at his stubbornness, and he didn't say anything about the prison. He almost returned to his ears. Hearing that Chao Ting was going to escort him back to his hometown in Fujian, he said with emotion, "I'm seventy-six years old and I'm going to die? "He also said," I'm old, I'm sick, and I died strangely. I'm really dying. "Why not die?" On March 15, the waiter was called to shave his head, grabbed a razor and cut his throat. Two days after his death, he died on March 16 (May 7th in Gregorian calendar) at the age of 76. The report written by Dongchang Royal Guards to the emperor said that Li Zhi "died without food". Ma was buried at the side of Masizhuang Temple outside the north gate of Tongzhou, Beijing (now Xihaizi Park in Tongzhou, Beijing). Today, the cemetery still exists and is listed as a cultural relic in Beijing.

In the thirty-eighth year of Wanli (16* 10), Li Zhi students Wang Keshou, Mei and Su donated money to Li Shubei.

Li Zhisheng had four sons and three daughters, all of whom died unfortunately except the eldest.

think

Li Zhi claimed to be a "heresy" of Confucius and Mencius' traditional Confucianism, and denounced and criticized feudal society such as male superiority, false Taoism, social corruption, corrupt officials and so on, advocating "getting rid of the old and innovating" and opposing the idea of prohibition. In literature, Li Zhi put forward "the theory of childlike innocence", and advocated that the creation should "reject the false and preserve the true" and express their opinions. Li Zhi clearly declared that his works were "deviant works", saying, "I can't kill them, but my head can't be humiliated" and didn't flinch. Li Zhi also advocated "sincerity" in his poetry writing style and opposed the prevailing trend of "imitating the past" at that time. His tendency had an important influence on the literature of the late Ming Dynasty. Li Zhi hates the false way of maintaining feudal ethics and hates those who are full of benevolence, righteousness and morality. He denounced the so-called Taoists: too much fame and too much protection. "There are many evils in reality, but there is no evil in ambition; It is selfish, but it is committed to fraternity and fraternity; It is also true that you hold your own opinion, but you can't talk about it. " "When you say learning, you will say that you are for yourself and I am for others; I am selfish, but I want to be an altruist. In fact, all of them are "seeking high positions by studying, seeking respect by being an official", all for themselves, and "none of them are seeking for others" ("Burning Books and Answering Gengshikou"). So duplicity, words and deeds differ, but not as real as Ordinary People and The Author of Tian Li, why say anything (ditto). He further accused Taoists of being a group of hypocritical Taoists, saying that "Yang is the Tao, Yin is rich, clothes are elegant, and they walk like dogs" (continue to burn books, and the three religions return to Confucianism). Taoist scholars are full of benevolence and virtue. In fact, they take Taoism as a stepping stone, "bullying the world for profit" and seek high officials and generous salaries for themselves. They "talk about virtue but have high officials and high salaries, aiming at great wealth" (burning books and burying Confucianism, waiting for the weak). Li Zhi's exposure of Zhu Cheng's Neo-Confucianism and Wei Daozhi really hit the nail on the head. Li Zhi also lashed out at Confucius and Mencius and was highly praised by the hierarchy. Burning Books, Praising Liu Xie, Introduction to the Holy Religion, and Confucius Inscription in Zhifu Garden, etc. He belittled Confucius with a playful and sarcastic style, which was a bold move in ancient times when Confucius was regarded as the most holy teacher. He thinks that Confucius is not a saint, "although Confucius is also a mediocrity" (Burning Books and Answering Zhou Liutang). Confucius is nothing. "People who plow fields and raise fish can take it, and the goodness of all saints and sages is not desirable." Why do you have to learn from Confucius and then become a righteous pulse? "("Burning Books and Answering the Guns Mouth "). We are all saints. Why do we have to learn from Confucius? This pulled Confucius down from the supreme position of a saint. If we must regard Confucius as an idol and imitate Confucius in words and deeds, it is "the base state of ugly women" (on how to burn books). Li Zhi denied the orthodox position of Confucianism, denied that the study of Confucius and Mencius was the "eternal theory" of "ancient and modern Taoism", and thought that it could not be applied casually as a teaching article. Six Classics, Analects of Confucius and Mencius are the ammunition of Taoism and the cradle of dummies. Li Zhi's criticism of Confucius and the Tao of Confucius and Mencius has indeed reached the point of "non-sage", so it is no wonder that the official class hates his guts. Li Zhi gave deep sympathy to the women oppressed by feudal ethics, and spoke out for women. In Burning Books: A Short-sighted Book for Women to Learn Taoism, Li Zhi criticized the view that men's opinions are as long as women's. He said, "Deep Stone is short-sighted in her view. So it's okay to have men and women, and it's okay to look at men and women. It means that you can see the length, the longer the man's perspective, the better, and the shorter the woman's perspective. How can it be? If a woman is seen by a man, she will be happy to listen to the truth, know that there are not enough proverbs, be happy to know that there is no love in the floating world, and be afraid of being seen by men all over the world, and be ashamed to sweat and dare not speak out. " This is a sharp challenge to the traditional feudal ethics. Li Zhi mercilessly exposed the atrocities of those who closed the system and cruelly oppressed the people. He borrowed the myth and legend that Feng Shaohua, the chief of Xuancheng in Han Dynasty, ate people, and accused the officials in power of being "tigers and wolves that ate people". If it is big, it will swallow people and animals, while if it is small, it will leave no fish and shrimp "("Burning Books, Fengjun "). In "Burning Books", he also commented on "Water Margin" to express his strong dissatisfaction with real politics. How to save the people in from the mire and explore a way to benefit the country and the people? Li Zhi turned his attention to the upper level of * building system * governing order *, hoping to "have one and a half talents" and let "upright and upright" talents "do something, commit suicide for the good, and refuse to be ungrateful" (Cold Light Burning Books). The formation of Li Zhi's philosophy thought of learning, thinking and thinking has gone through the process from materialism to subjective idealism. Li Zhi advocated that everything in the universe was born from heaven and earth (eventually yin and yang), and denied Zhu Cheng's objective idealistic assertion that one can be angry and one can have two. Li Zhi also believes that people's moral and spiritual phenomena exist in people's material life. "Dressing and eating is human physics" ("Burning Books and Answering Deng Shiyang") is his famous theory and an idea with simple materialism. Li Zhi believes in Buddhism and Wang Yangming's theory of mind, so the center of his whole philosophical system is subjective idealism and righteousness. He believes that "sincerity" and "childlike innocence" are the most fundamental concepts and the origin of all things. Nature is "my little understanding and sincerity" ("burning books to interpret classics"). Without reason and nothingness, everything in the world exists only in honesty. What is "sincerity"? It is the original heart of childlike innocence, initial heart and first thought, that is, the heart of "I" that is not affected by the outside world. They are the source of everything and all phases, which can be called "the source of purity". Everything, mountains and rivers in one thought, is only the expression of sincerity, the factors and components of sincerity, just like the relationship between blisters in the sea and seawater. This view is in line with Lu Wang School's "My heart is the universe, and the universe is my heart" and Zen's "Everything is in my heart". Li Zhi's use of subjective idealism as a theoretical weapon against Zhu Cheng's Neo-Confucianism based on objective idealism will inevitably weaken his combat effectiveness. Li Zhi's epistemology is a kind of transcendentalism based on subjective idealism and justice theory, and advocates the theory of "knowing from birth" derived from Buddhism. The article "Burning Books and Answering Zhou Xiyan" points out that "there is no one in the world who doesn't know, nothing doesn't know, and nothing doesn't know for a while." "People are born with knowledge, and everyone has Buddha nature." "Everyone can be sacred" ("Burning Books and Answering Genghis Mouth"). Li Zhi's theory of "living knowledge" is in contradiction with the deification of Confucius, which denies the traditional thought of taking Confucius as the standard of cognitive correctness from the perspective of cognitive ability and cognitive source, and has a progressive role in solving and releasing thoughts. However, the limitations and defects of his contradictory theory of "knowing from life" and "knowing from life" cannot be ignored. There are many simple and dialectical thoughts in Li Zhi's philosophical thoughts and academic thoughts. "Continue to burn the book pottery stone jar" cloud: "Good and evil are positive, Yin and Yang are positive, rigid and soft, and men and women are positive. "He admits that everything has two sides, which to some extent reveals the contradictions and opposites within things and transforms them into each other. Influenced by simple dialectical thinking, the political thoughts expressed in Burning Books include developing thoughts such as "All the time in the world, I have no skills" (Chao Cuo) and "Don't follow the old attack, don't practice the old" (farewell to Gengsikou).

Mr. Huang Renyu also systematically expounded Li Zhi's thoughts in the book Fifteen Years of Wanli.