 By far the most influential Neo-Confucian philosopher is Zhu Xi (1130–1200). Zhu came to Confucianism after a little more than a decade of study of and experimentation with Daoism and Chan (Zen) Buddhism. Like many other prominent Confucian thinkers of his era, he was a great admirer of the Cheng brothers and took himself to be building on the exegetical and theoretical foundations that they had laid, although he occasionally registered disagreements with some of their remarks. In his day Zhu was just one among many prominent thinkers and teachers who claimed the mantle of the Cheng brothers, but by the end of the Song he came to be seen as the most authoritative spokesperson not just for the Chengs but for the entire Daoxue (Learning of the Way) tradition. His interpretation of the Confucian canon became the basis of the civil service examination in 1313, so that over time it was closely read by many millions of aspiring civil servants and students of Confucianism. Consequently, Zhu’s interpretation of the Confucian tradition has been treated by countless Confucians as orthodoxy, and continues to be so regarded by many adherents of Confucianism today.