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Liu Zongzhou (simplified Chinese: 刘宗周; traditional Chinese: 劉宗周; pinyin: Liú Zōngzhōu, 1579–1645), also known as Liu Jishan (simplified Chinese: 刘蕺山; traditional Chinese: 劉蕺山), was a Confucian scholar from the Ming dynasty, born in Shanyin, Shaoxing.He is considered the last master of Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism and is known for his criticism of the teachings of Wang Yangming. After the Ming dynasty was destroyed by the Qing dynasty, Liu Zongzhou died on 8 June of the self-imposed starvation at age 68.
One of his students Zhu Yuan (祝淵) committed suicide by hanging himself. Another one of his students Wang Yushi (王毓蓍) committed suicide by drowning himself.
Along with Hu Hong, Liu Zongzhou's thoughts are regarded as part of a third stream of Neo-Confucianism by Mou Zongsan.
