Xinjing 心經

Xinjing 心經 "Classic of the mind" is a philosophical treatise written during the late Southern Song period 南宋 (1127-1279) by Zhen Dexiu 真德秀 (1178-1235), who is also the author of the more famous Daxue yanyi 大學衍義. The book was originally called Fayu 法語 "Model words".

The short treatise discusses the mind of the holy and wise scholar with the help of many quotations from traditional literature. At the end of the text, the author adds an eulogy (zan 贊) as a kind of summary. On an idealist background, the author develops the idea that the correct mind (zhengxin 正心) would be able to transform the consciousness and behaviour of everyone towards that of a Confucian saint. To detect the proper mind, the scholar had to concentrate on "the one", leading to respect and politeness. With a respectful mind, the self would become straight and upright. The virtues of the mind were the Confucian values kindheartedness (ren 仁), righteousness (yi 義), orderly behaviour (li 理), and wisdom (zhi 智). These four virtues were bestowed on man by nature (Heaven). The correct mind was thus provided with the formation of the physical nature, and each man had the potential to become a "saint". The Xinjing is a kind of précis of the Neo-Confucian discussion on the goodness in human nature.

The Xinjing was first printed in 1234 by Yan Ruoyu 顏若愚. Emperor Li 宋理宗 (r. 1224-1264) ordered Hong Zikui 洪咨夔 (1176-1236) to compile a preface to it. The Ming-period 明 (1368-1644) scholar Cheng Minzheng 程敏政 (1446-1499) wrote a commentary and eliminated some parts added by later scholars.

The Xinjing is included in the series Siku quanshu 四庫全書 and Xijing qinglu congshu xubian 西京清麓叢書續編, and the collected works of the author, Zhen Xishan quanji 真西山全集.