The purpose of the essay is to compare the ideology between Gu Xian-cheng (顧憲成) and Gao Pan-long (高攀龍) who were the Confucian scholars in late Ming period. The argument of the two scholar’s ideology has lasted for a long time. According to previous research results, there are different statements: One statement is that they are the revivers of Zhu Xi School (朱子學), another is the correctors of Yang-ming School (陽明學), the other is they were the reconciliation of the two above-mentioned schools. These different results showed the complexity of the two ideologies clearly. Active in the history of thought between Zhu Xi School and Yang-ming School and were the promoters of the Dong-lin Academy (東林書院) made Gu Xian-cheng and Gao Pan-long the representatives of Dong-lin School (東林學派). The discussion about the two ideologies is not only related to the comprehension of their main idea but also shows the observation and development of Zhu Xi School and Yang-ming School in late Ming period.
There are two parts in the essay. First is about the understanding and reflection of what they talked about Yang-ming School. This part is mainly discussed in chapter 2,3, and 4. The part is also focused on what they accepted and rejected of Zhu Xi and Wang Yang-ming’s thoughts and also both of their individual standpoints. At the same time, we touch upon their feedback of The Mind-heart Substance Is of Neither Good Nor Evil (無善無惡心之體) from Wang Yang-ming respectively as well. We compare the two ideologies by their feedback and also the comprehension of Pure Consciousness (良知) from Wang School. Second, we emphasized on the theory of Mind and Nature from Gu Xian-cheng and Gao Pan-long. This part is talked about in chapter 5 and 6. We probe into the Discussion of Mind and Nature (心與性) from the two scholars, the meaning of their thoughts separately and the Aspect of Emphasis on Moral Law (主理型態) and transcendental practical incentive of the Moral Practice about the Discussion of Mind and Nature in the two chapters.