The ideas of Song neo-Confucianism focus on the concept of li ontology, which is about understanding the reasons behind things. Scholars like Zhou Dunyi, Zhang Zai, Cheng Hao, Cheng Yi, and Zhu Xi all contributed to developing this idea. They believed that by studying the nature of things and improving oneself, society could be better organized. Zhu Xi, in particular, proposed a philosophy of li ontology that unified the Song neo-Confucian worldview. Their advanced way of thinking led to significant theoretical advancements compared to earlier Confucian scholars. The methodology they used involved a dialectical approach that emphasized the interconnectedness of different concepts.