Cheng Yi (Wade-Giles: Ch'eng I; also known as Cheng Yichuan [Ch'eng I-ch'uan]; courtesy name: Zhengshu; 1033-1107) was a philosopher in China who worked with his older brother Cheng Hao. Like his brother, he was a student of Zhou Dunyi, a friend of Shao Yong, and a nephew of Zhang Zai. The five of them are called the "Five Great Masters" of the 11th century by Zhu Xi. A philosopher is a person who thinks deeply regarding people, society, the world, and/or the universe. ... Chou Tun-yi (or Zhou Dunyi) (1017-1073) was a Chinese Neo-Confucian philosopher and cosmologist. ... Shao Yung (邵雍) was one of the most remarkable men who has ever probed the hidden, metaphysical secrets of life. ... Chang Tsai (or Zhang Zai) (1020-1077) was a Chinese Neo-Confucian moral philosopher and cosmologist. ... Zhu Xi or Chu Hsi (born October 18, 1130, Yuxi, Fujian province, China – died April 23, 1200, China) was a Song Dynasty (960-1279) Confucian scholar who became the leading figure of the School of Principle and the most influential rationalist Neo-Confucian in China. ...

Cheng Yi entered the national university in 1056, and received the "presented scholar" degree in 1059. He lived and taught in Luoyang, and declined numerous appointments to high offices. In 1086 he was appointed expositor-in-waiting and gave many lectures to the emperor on Confucianism. He was more aggressive and obstinate than his brother, and made several enemies, including Su Shi, the leader of the Sichuan group. In 1097 his enemies were able to ban his teachings, confiscate his properties, and banish him. He was pardoned three years later, but was blacklisted and again his work was banned in 1103. He was finally pardoned in 1106, one year before his death. Luoyang (Simplified Chinese: , Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Luòyáng) is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province, Peoples Republic of China. ... Confucian temple in Jiading district, Shanghai. ... Su Shi (蘇軾) (1037-1101) was a writer, poet, artist, calligrapher and statesman of the Song Dynasty, one of the major poets of the Song era. ...

Reference

• James D. Sellman, "Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi," in Great Thinkers of the Eastern World, Ian McGready, ed., New York: Harper Collins, 1995, p. 111-115.