A core problem in New Confucian philosopher Xiong Shili's later work is the origin of moral badness. Xiong uses the concepts of nature (xing) and mind (xin) to explain it, asserting that Buddhists never addressed the origin of ignorance and delusion, which lead to suffering and wrongdoing. He sets out to redress this failure. The author argues that the conceptual structure of Xiong's approach is isomorphic with that of Zhu Xi, suggesting Xiong consciously drew on Zhu Xi and/or the Buddhist models that Zhu drew on. Evidence shows that even as late as 1959, despite his criticisms of Buddhism, Xiong continued to draw on key concepts from Buddhist philosophy of mind.
The origin of moral badness is a central problem in New Confucian philosopher Xiong Shili's 1959 work Explaining the Mind. Xiong argues that Buddhists never addressed the origin of ignorance and delusion, which cause suffering and wrongdoing, and he attempts to remedy this. The essay shows that Xiong's conceptual structure for explaining badness through nature (xing) and mind (xin) is isomorphic with that of Zhu Xi, a Song dynasty Confucian. This isomorphism suggests Xiong consciously drew on Zhu Xi and the Buddhist models that Zhu used. Evidence demonstrates that even late in life, despite his criticisms of Buddhism, Xiong continued to rely on Buddhist philosophy of mind.