1139-1193
Confucian Scholar

Education. Born in Jiangxi in 1139, Lu Jiuyuan was taught privately by his father and other tutors. In 1172 he successfully earned the jinshi degree and entered the National Academy, situated in Hangzhou, the capital of the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279). Later he became a recognized instructor at Elephant Mountain in Jiangxi and hence took the name of Xiangshan.

Official. As a magistrate at Qingmen in Hubei province, he carried out reforms in the administration of his office. Lu was popular and often gave speeches on civic duty. Although he consecutively held several official positions, he was seemingly more interested in education than in government affairs.

On Learning. Lu maintained in the Total Collections of Lu Xiangshan that the goal of learning was to clear the mind of all things by which it is blinded, allowing the mind to go back to its initially uncontaminated...