 In terms of Buddhist metaphysics , Zhou Dunyi influenced the beliefs and teachings of Northern Song @-@ era Confucian scholars such as Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi ( who were brothers ) , and was a major influence for Zhu Xi , one of the leading architects of Neo @-@ Confucianism . They emphasized moral self @-@ cultivation over service to the ruler of the state ( healing society 's ills from the bottom @-@ up , not the top @-@ down ) , as opposed to statesmen like Fan Zhongyan or Su Shi , who pursued their agenda to advise the ruler to make the best decisions for the common good of all . The Cheng brothers also taught that the workings of nature and metaphysics could be taught through the principle ( li ) and the vital energy ( qi ) . The principle of nature could be moral or physical , such as the principle of marriage being moral , while the principle of trees is physical . Yet for principles to exist and function normally , there would have to be substance as well as vital energy . This allowed Song intellectuals to validate the teachings of Mencius on the innate goodness of human nature , while at the same time providing an explanation for human wrongdoing . In essence , the principle underlying a human being is good and benevolent , but vital energy has the potential to go astray and be corrupted , giving rise to selfish impulses and all other negative human traits . 
