Nature Connectedness and Moral Cultivation in the Yijing

Abstract This article explores the concept of nature connectedness with reference to the Yijing (The Classic of Changes). Following an interpretation of the neo-Confucian thinker Zhu Xi, I argue that oneness with the natural world refers to the moral unity between humans and Heaven. This unity is reflected in the correspondence between the natural order (tianli) of Heaven and the moral order (daoli) for humanity. Humans attain the moral order by cultivating their moral nature through gewu (investigation of things), where one makes sense of and appreciates how oneself, other people, situations, and natural phenomena are fitted together harmoniously. This has implications for education, and I recommend two strategies for schools: promoting mindful reflection and personal journaling for students. The paper also identifies and responds to two major critiques of the Confucian ideas forwarded in this essay: the problem of an idealized nature, and the rationale for moral self-cultivation.