Changes

===Politics===

===Politics===

Aside from his more philosophical or conceptual teachings, politically, Zhu Xi was a powerful advocate for the inclusion of practical knowledge in the education and testing of Confucian scholars. In addition, he suggested a curriculum based not on the broader set of Confucian classics studied previously, but rather on the [[Analects|Analects of Confucius]], the writings of [[Mencius]], and two chapters he excerpted from the [[Book of Rites]]: the [[Great Learning]] (''Daxue''), and [[The Mean]]. Together, these came to be known as "the Four Books."<ref>Valerie Hansen, ''The Open Empire'', New York: W.W. Norton & Company (2000), 357.</ref>

Aside from his more philosophical or conceptual teachings, politically, Zhu Xi was a powerful advocate for the inclusion of practical knowledge in the education and testing of Confucian scholars. In addition, he suggested a curriculum based not on the broader set of Confucian classics studied previously, but rather on the [[Analects|Analects of Confucius]], the writings of [[Mencius]], and two chapters he excerpted from the [[Book of Rites]]: the [[Great Learning]] (''Daxue''), and [[The Mean]]. Together, these came to be known as "the Four Books."<ref>Valerie Hansen, ''The Open Empire'', New York: W.W. Norton & Company (2000), 357.</ref> Along with these four texts, Zhu's own commentaries came to form the standard canon to be studied, and tested on the exams.

Zhu Xi's attitudes and approaches were rather non-orthodox in his time; however, in later centuries, the civil examination system shifted, and embraced his approaches, ideals, and selection of texts, as the new orthodox method for studying, and applying, the Confucian classics.

Zhu Xi's attitudes and approaches were rather non-orthodox in his time; however, in later centuries, the civil examination system shifted, and embraced his approaches, ideals, and selection of texts, as the new orthodox method for studying, and applying, the Confucian classics.