Li, principle or pattern, became the central concept of Neo-Confucianism through the Cheng brothers and Zhu Xi. Every thing has its principle, and all principles are one, the supreme ultimate. Li is always found with qi, the material force. Investigating things reveals their principle.
Li (principle)
Principle: in Neo-Confucianism, the rational pattern of the cosmos, present whole in every thing.
Also: principle