Lin Li (a contemporary of Zhu Xi, but with a different scholarly view) in June 1188** Zhu Xi, Lin Li had a dispute with Zhu Xi about the Book of Changes and Zhang Zai's Ximing. Lin Li believes that there is no "Wuji" in the Book of Changes, while the Ximing has the Buddhist idea of the Dharma Realm. When they refuted Zhu Xi's academic orthodoxy, they all pointed out that heretical doctrines influenced the writings of Zhou Dunyi and Zhang Zai. After Lin Li's criticism caused controversy in the imperial court, Zhu Xi returned home and received Lu Jiuyuan's first letter discussing the "Taiji Diagram".
In 1188, Lu Jiuyuan began to challenge and question Zhu Xi's commentary on the Taiji Tushuo, and at that time Lu Jiuyuan had already decided that Zhu Xi was bent on winning the debate, so there was no need for correspondence and discussion. Zhu Xi welcomed Lu Jiuyuan to join the debate in place of his brother Lu Jiuling, and hoped that he would not interrupt the exchange. In the second year, Zhu Xi changed his degree, thinking that discussing this issue with Lu Jiuyuan had not been resolved. His second letter tasted a little annoyed:
The meaning of the book, so the person who sees the teachings is even, and at the end of it, if there are doubts, do not fear the words of teaching. (Zhu Wen's Collected Documents, vol. 36).
Zhu Xi discusses the arguments.
First: King Wen does not say "Tai Chi" but "Confucius says";Confucius did not say "Wuji" but "Zhou Zi said" (Zhu Zi's Collected Works, vol. 36).
Second: In the (Reason, Sex, and Life) chapter of the "Tongshu", "one" refers to Tai Chi, and "Zhong" refers to the attainment of qi, and it is not possible to train "Tai Chi" with "Zhong", and Lu Jiuyuan is trained by "Zhong" to train "Ji", and "Yin and Yang" is metaphysical, and the reason of "Tai Chi" is not clear.
Third: "I Ching" and "Dictionaries" do not really take "yin and yang" as "metaphysical", but only refer to "so one yin and one yang is the work of the Tao", "Yin and yang are the shape of the instrument, and its reason is the Tao". Lu Jiuyuan directly takes yin and yang as the metaphysics, and he is ignorant of the Taoist weapon.
Fourth: the word "have" of "easy to have Taiji". Lu Jiuyuan should not misunderstand, resulting in a conflict with the "nothing" of "Wuji".
Fifth: Lao Tzu's word "Wuji" means "infinite". Unlike Zhou Dunyi. At the same time, Lao Tzu takes "existence" as "two", and Zhou Dunyi takes "existence" as "one", which is different.
Lu Jiuyuan accused Zhou Dunyi's "Taiji Diagram" of originating from Taoism and not fitting with the Confucian position. Zhu Xi did not give a positive answer to this question of historical examination.