周敦颐（ 1017-1073），字茂叔、号濂溪先生。道州营道（今湖南道县）人。宋代著名思想家，理学的奠基人。他曾任南安军司理，为政清廉，深受百姓爱戴。晚年定居庐山莲花洞并创办濂溪书院讲学、植荷。他的名作《爱莲说》，托物言志、见解深精，至今仍有极好的教育意义。

Zhou Dunyi (1017 -1073), styled Mao Shu, assumedly named Mr. Lian Xi, native of Yingdao, Dao Prefecture (Dao County, Hunan Province), a renowned ideologist and the founder of Idealist Philosophy (a Confucian school founded in Song and Ming dynasties). He was once appointed Military Manager in Nan’an. During his term, he was honest and upright and deeply respected by local people. In his late years, he lived in Lotus Cave on Lushan Mountain and set up Lianxi Academy where he gave lectures and planted lotus. His masterpiece is A Tale of Lotus Lover.