Yangming

Yangming refers to Wang Yangming (1472–1529), a Chinese philosopher, official, and educator of the Ming dynasty. Born Wang Shouren in Yuyao, Zhejiang, he became a leading figure in Neo-Confucian thought and is best known for founding the School of Mind (Xin xue). His ideas were highly influential in shaping later Chinese philosophy, as well as intellectual currents in Korea and Japan.

Central to Yangming’s teaching is the claim that the mind is the source of moral knowledge. He argued that individuals possess an innate moral sense, liangzhi, which enables them to discern right from wrong without reliance on external authorities. He also advanced the unity of knowledge and action (zhi xing he yi), contending that true knowledge must be manifested in deeds and that genuine understanding arises through ethical conduct and practical engagement with duties in family, society, and the state.

Yangming’s emphasis on inner moral cultivation contrasted with some interpretations of Zhu Xi’s philosophy, which stressed extensive external investigation of the world to acquire moral knowledge. In Yangming’s view, reflection, self-cultivation, and conscientious action are the pathways to virtue, and moral insight is tested through practice.

His career included holding official posts and teaching in various regions, where he disseminated his writings and ideas. The School of Mind spread through his followers and exerted lasting influence on the Chinese tradition, as well as on East Asian thought in Korea and Japan, contributing to ethics, education, and political philosophy.

Today, Wang Yangming is regarded as one of the most important Neo-Confucian thinkers. His focus on innate moral knowledge and the inseparability of knowing and doing continues to attract scholarly interest in philosophy, history, and East Asian studies.