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This post was last edited by Wang Tianze on 2016-6-17 at 12:53. 1.jpg What is a prominent discipline? Dominant theories generally refer to those that are closely linked to reality, attract widespread societal attention, or hold a dominant position in the intellectual and academic world; in other words, they are the mainstream theories. The mainstream theories of different eras vary to some extent, and in the history of pre-Qin thought, these specifically refer to Confucianism and Mohism. It sometimes also refers to the Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism – the three schools that hold an important place in the entire history of Chinese thought. The term “prominent schools of thought” first appeared in Han Fei Zi’s chapter on prominent schools of thought: “The prominent schools of thought in the world are Confucianism and Mohism.” ”The Warring States period was a time of major transformation in ancient Chinese society, as it moved from a feudal system to a centralized one; the economy, politics, and ideology all underwent intense and complex changes. At that time, the Zhou royal family was in decline, and the various feudal states, in their struggle for dominance, made great efforts to recruit talented people in an attempt to strengthen their own powers and gain supremacy. Thought and expression were unprecedentedly free at that time, marking a golden age for the development of thought and scholarship in China. During this period, a large number of thinkers emerged, who put forward various ideas regarding social change, hoping that their theories would be adopted by those in power; this period is historically known as the \"Hundred Schools of Thought.\" Among them, the more influential ones are Confucianism, Legalism, Mohism, Diplomacy School, and Taoism. In the early Warring States period, Yangism and Mohism were at their peak. Mencius said, \"Those who reject Mohism will turn to Yangism, and those who reject Yangism will turn to Confucianism,\" resulting in a tripartite balance among Confucianism, Yangism, and Mohism. From Mencius to Han Fei, Confucianism declined while Mohism grew in strength, leading to a shift from a tripartite balance of power to a situation in which Confucianism and Mohism each held half of the world’s influence. Reference: The chapter ‘Teng Wen Gong’ in Mencius states: “The teachings of Yang Zhu and Mo Di fill the world; all discussions in the world either pertain to Yang or to Mo.” ” What is the study of the heart? As a school of thought within Confucianism’s Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism, the School of Mind was founded by Lu Jiuyuan during the Southern Song Dynasty, standing in contrast to the Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism represented by Cheng Yi and Zhu Xi. It was during the Ming Dynasty that Wang Yangming first coined the term “Heart Learning,” and from then on, Heart Learning developed a clear and distinct academic framework of its own. The Lu-Wang School of Mind Studies is an abbreviation for the school of thought based on the concept of the mind, developed by Confucian scholars Lu Jiuyuan and Wang Yangming (Wang Shouren); it is also referred to simply as the \"School of Mind Studies\"” ； There are also schools of thought specifically associated with certain philosophers, such as Wang Yangming’s “Yangming School of Mind”. Although the Lu-Wang school of thought on the mind and the Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism are sometimes classified under the Neo-Confucianism of the Song and Ming dynasties, they have many differences. Lu defined the term \"universe\" as follows: \"Matters within the universe are matters that fall within one’s own responsibilities.\" ； What is one’s own duty is also a matter of the universe. ”Lu argued that \"the mind is the universe,\" and he also promoted the theory that \"the mind is principle.\" It is asserted that heaven’s principles, human principles, and physical laws exist only within my heart. All people share the same heart, and the same principles. From ancient times to the present, it is true in all cases. ”It is believed that the method of pursuing knowledge lies primarily in discovering one’s innate nature; there is no need to read extensively or seek knowledge from external sources. \"If one understands the essence, then the Six Classics can all serve as annotations for one’s own understanding.\" ”All of these are in sharp contrast to Zhu Xi’s views. In the case of Wang Yangming’s philosophy, he spent many years studying Zhu Xi’s teachings without achieving any results; later, after understanding Lu Jiuyuan’s ideas, he further developed those teachings, giving rise to what is known as Wang Yangming’s philosophy. The main doctrines were derived by Wang Yangming during his famous \"enlightenment at Longchang\" in history; his disciples each distinguished themselves, and they could be divided into two schools: the left and the right. What is Yangmingism? Also known as Wangism or the School of the Heart, it is a form of Confucian philosophy developed by the great scholar of the Ming dynasty, Wang Shouren (styled “Yangmingzi” and commonly referred to as Wang Yangming). The Neo-Confucianism of the Cheng Yi and Zhu Xi schools, which was popular during the Yuan dynasty and in the early Ming dynasty, emphasized the study of things in order to understand fundamental principles. Wang Yangming, on the other hand, built upon Lu Jiuyuan’s ideas from the Song dynasty by asserting that \"the mind is itself the principle\" – that is, the highest truths do not need to be sought outside, but can be found within one’s own heart. Wang Yangming’s teachings were inherited and further developed by his students, and were spread among the people through lectures. This gave rise to the \"Yaojiang School,\" also known as the \"Yangming School.\" Among its various branches, the Taizhou School (also referred to as the Leftist Wangism) took his ideas to an extreme, arguing that since the principle of virtue exists within the heart, \"everyone can become a sage like Yao and Shun,\" meaning that even ordinary people who are not scholars can attain the status of sages. The development of Wang Xue’s view that \"the mind is the principle\" also influenced the positive attitudes and perspectives toward desire in the thought of the late Ming dynasty. Since the heart embodies principle, human desires and heavenly principles are no longer opposed to each other as Zhu Xi believed; thus, they can be accepted positively ； The representative figure of this view is Li Zhi. Main doctrines: “The mind is principle,” “Unity of knowledge and action,” “Developing innate knowledge,” “Strive only for what is right,” “Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants,” “The Four Statements.” Reference: *Records of Transmission*, Wang Yangming’s life. A line here separates the introduction from the main text: Do you still remember that survey conducted a few years ago asking, “Are you happy?” As the economy develops at a rapid pace and we all strive for success, have we overlooked anything? As we fight on the battlefield to achieve a prosperous material life, have we neglected our spiritual life? To be insatiably possessive of external things, while allowing the soul to suffer from severe hunger? Mencius said, “There is no other way to pursue learning; it is merely a matter of seeking back one’s original heart.” ” In life, a very simple example is marriage. Is it reliable for outsiders to judge whether a person’s marriage is happy based on factors like whether they have a car and a house? Only one’s own feelings are considered real. If a person is mentally healthy, do they still need vast wealth and great achievements? With a certain material foundation, Ta feels happy. If a person’s mind is in a sub-healthy state, even if they become the richest person in the world or a favored one by fate, will they feel happy? The Doctrine of the Mean states: \"If one is originally poor and humble, one should live in poverty and humility.\" ； Be like the barbarians, act like the barbarians ； Share hardships, and walk through them together. A gentleman finds contentment in every situation he finds himself in. ” Today, what I would like to recommend to you is: 1. *Biographies*, by Wang Yangming. Note: “*Biographies*” – In The Analects, Zengzi said, “I examine myself three times a day.” Is it not loyal to act on behalf of others? Do you make friends without trust? Can it be passed on? ” 2. “The Unity of Knowledge and Action: Wang Yangming” by Du Yinshan. 3. “Wang Yangming’s Philosophy of the Heart” taught by Dong Ping, Zhejiang University open course. Note for this post: Brick enthusiasts, please skip ahead – thank you! If you don’t like it, please don’t criticize; just go elsewhere. Thank you! If there are any sensitive words, please have the moderator delete them directly. Thank you!