In the long history of the Ming Dynasty, Wang Yangming's name is like a bright star, shining with the light of philosophy and culture. However, on the last day of his life, the great thinker was met with unimaginable loneliness and suffering. The body was eroded to the extreme by the disease, the skin and flesh festered, and even the doctors who brought it left one after another because they were powerless. In such desperate times, his disciples were the only companions. How did Wang Yangming, a former champion, philosopher, and military strategist, come to this point in his life? What kind of profound meaning did the last eight words he left behind? Can his life and his death bring any enlightenment to us today?
Talents and challenges in the early years
Wang Yangming, formerly known as Wang Shouren, was born into an academic family. His father, Wang Hua, was a high-ranking official in the Ming Dynasty and a scholar. Wang Yangming showed extraordinary intelligence since he was a child, but his childhood was not smooth. According to historical records, he lost his voice due to illness in his childhood and was considered mute. However, this seemingly unfortunate beginning became an opportunity for a turning point in his life.
By chance, Wang Yangming suddenly regained his language ability. This event not only surprised his family, but also laid the foundation for his later academic career. Wang Yangming's father knew the importance of education, so he gave him a strict education. Wang Yangming read poetry and books, and deeply understood the essence of Confucian classics. His knowledge and talent were already evident as a teenager.
As an adult, Wang Yangming took the imperial examination. After several efforts, he finally won the Jinshi in 1506 and then entered the official career. In officialdom, Wang Yangming's performance is also excellent. He not only made achievements in the civilian profession, but also showed extraordinary talent in the military profession. Especially in quelling the rebellion in Guangxi, Wang Yangming showed his military talent and leadership. These exploits of his made him increasingly important in the court.
However, Wang Yangming's life has not been smooth sailing. During his career, he suffered several political setbacks. Because of his outspokenness, he was repeatedly demoted to a petty official, and was even sent to remote areas. Although these experiences brought him many hardships, they also gave him the opportunity to think deeply about life and philosophical issues. During this time, Wang Yangming began to form his mental thoughts.
The study of mind is an innovation of Wang Yangming's Confucian tradition. He emphasized the "unity of knowledge and action", and believed that knowledge and action are inseparable. This idea later became the core of his philosophical system. Wang Yangming believes that everyone has heavenly principles in their hearts, and through introspection and practice, everyone can become a saint. This thought has had a profound impact on later generations and has become a major innovation in the history of Chinese philosophy.
Wang Yangming's study of mind is not only a philosophical system, but also has a profound impact on his personal life and political career. In his later officialdom career, Wang Yangming always adhered to his philosophical principles, was not afraid of the powerful, and dared to speak out. This insistence has earned him repeated political criticism, but he has also won the respect and following of many like-minded people.
Despite his academic and political achievements, Wang's personal life has been fraught with challenges. His health has been poor, especially in his later years, with frequent illnesses. These health problems ultimately affected his work and quality of life. In the last years of his life, Wang Yangming spent almost all of his life on the sickbed. Despite this, he continued to teach and write, and continued to spread his ideas of mind.
Wang Yangming's life is a historical drama full of legends. From a child who was considered mute, to a learned Confucian, from a fledgling young scholar, to a respected philosopher and statesman. His story is not only a personal struggle, but also a record of profound philosophical reflections and life experiences. Wang Yangming's life is the most vivid interpretation of "light and darkness intertwined".
Middle-aged ideological enlightenment and dissemination
Wang Yangming's middle age marked the maturity and widespread dissemination of his philosophical ideas. After experiencing academic accumulation and political setbacks in his early years, Wang Yangming gradually formed his own unique philosophical system, the study of mind. During this period, he not only deepened his thoughts, but also began to actively educate his disciples and spread his teachings.
Wang Yangming's psychology emphasizes the "unity of knowledge and action", that is, knowledge and action should be one, and advocates that inner self-cultivation and external action should complement each other. He believed that everyone has their own heavenly principles in their hearts, and that by being honest with their hearts, everyone can reach the holy state of morality. This idea was an innovation at the time, challenging the dogma of traditional Confucianism, which relied too much on the classics and authority.
In the process of disseminating psychology, Wang Yangming not only teaches students in the lecture hall, but also extends educational activities to daily life. He often has in-depth discussions with students, not only limited to book knowledge, but also focuses on students' ability to apply what they have learned to real life. Wang Yangming's teaching method is very unique, he often uses questions and answers to guide students to think, so that students can deepen their understanding of mind in answering questions.
Wang Yangming's educational activities were not limited to the scholarly class, he believed that the study of mind was universally applicable, so he also actively disseminated the idea of mind to all levels of society. This open-mindedness of his mind quickly spread among the people and attracted a large number of followers. Among them, there are some disciples who later became important thinkers and political figures, such as Wang Shouren, Xie Zhen and others.
Under the influence of Wang Yangming, the study of mind became a social movement. Many students have been inspired by him to re-examine their lives and careers, applying the concepts of Xinxue to practical action. The spread of this idea had a profound impact on the culture and society of the Ming Dynasty and even later generations.
However, Wang Yangming's dissemination of mind was not all smooth sailing. His ideas were also strongly opposed by some traditional Confucian scholars. These scholars believe that Wang Yangming's theory of mind deviates from the teachings of the Confucian classics, places too much emphasis on individualism, and may undermine the traditional order of society. As a result, Wang Yangming has been demoted many times and even forced to leave his education post.
Despite all the challenges, Wang Yangming still adheres to his educational philosophy. He believes that true education should not only be the imparting of knowledge, but also the cultivation of wisdom and morality. He lived by it and used his actions as the best example of teaching.
In Wang's later years, his health began to deteriorate, but he continued to teach and write, and continued to spread his mind and thoughts. His scholarship and spirit became a source of inspiration for his students and followers. Wang Yangming's life is the true embodiment of the concept of "unity of knowledge and action" in his psychology, he not only put forward the theory of mind, but also constantly verified and improved this idea in practice.
Wang Yangming's middle age was an important stage in the maturity and widespread dissemination of his philosophical thoughts. Through his tireless efforts, he not only deepened his philosophical system, but also influenced countless students and future generations of thinkers. Despite the opposition and challenges to his ideas, he stood firm in his beliefs and made Xinxue an indelible part of the history of Chinese philosophy.
The Sickness of Later Life and the Philosophical Legacy
Wang Yangming's later years were the most difficult period in his life's journey. Although his ideas of mind have been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and have influenced countless scholars and politicians, he has personally suffered great physical pain and social indifference. During this period, his health deteriorated dramatically, and he suffered from a variety of diseases, especially severe chest disease, which caused him to cough up blood frequently and lose weight day by day.
Despite his illness, Wang Yangming's academic activities did not stop. He continued to lecture and write, and continued to disseminate and deepen the theory of the mind. During this period, he completed many important philosophical works, including the Biography, which later became an indispensable document for the study of mind. Wang Yangming's persistence not only shows his dedication to academics, but also reflects his life practice of the concept of "unity of knowledge and action".
One of the most commendable aspects of Wang Yangming's later years was his tireless teaching of his students. Despite his declining health, he still accepted his disciples and patiently taught him the concept of mind. His home became an academic forum, and students came to his mansion from far and wide to listen to the teachings of the master. Wang Yangming's teaching during this period was not limited to imparting knowledge, but also showing students how to adhere to their ideals and beliefs in the face of adversity through his words and deeds.
However, as his condition worsened, Wang Yangming's physical condition became worse and worse. His skin was festering due to a long-term illness, and the pain caused him great suffering. In the last days of his life, many of the doctors and friends who had promised to take care of him left because they could not see hope, leaving only a few faithful disciples and family members who remained with him.
In the last moments of Wang Yangming's life, his mental state was still unusually clear. Legend has it that before he died, he gathered his disciples and family members present and left the famous eight words: "This heart is bright, and what can be said". These eight words are concise and profound, condensing his lifelong philosophical pursuit and understanding of life. This sentence was later regarded as the essence of Wang Yangming's theory of mind and influenced countless later scholars.
Wang's death marked the end of an era. His doctrine and life became an important object of later research, and the study of mind became an important milestone in the history of Chinese philosophy because of his efforts. Although his later years were filled with illness and loneliness, he showed through his life and teaching how to maintain the dignity of the person and the light of philosophy in the face of difficult circumstances.
Wang Yangming's life and work in his later years are the ultimate embodiment of his philosophy of "unity of knowledge and action". In the face of the extreme challenges of life, he not only maintained the dignity of a scholar and the sense of responsibility of a teacher, but also showed the true meaning of mind to the world through his practical actions. Although his life ended, his thoughts and spirit continued to circulate in the world in a more intense way.
The philosophy of light, the final chapter of darkness
Wang Yangming's life, like a magnificent epic, grew from a voiceless child to the most dazzling scholar, politician and military strategist of the Ming Dynasty. His philosophical ideas, especially the study of mind, were not only influential during his lifetime, but also continued to inspire the world after his death. However, the light of life of this master of mind gradually dimmed in the sickness and loneliness of his later years, and finally died out in endless darkness.
Wang Yangming's death was undoubtedly a huge loss for the academic and political circles at that time. His teachings and education have left an indelible mark on the Ming Dynasty and even on the entire history of Chinese culture. His ideas of mind, especially the concept of "the unity of knowledge and action", provided a new way of thinking for later generations of scholars, and had profound implications for understanding human nature and morality.
Wang Yangming's academic achievements and philosophical legacy were not only widely known during his lifetime, but also studied and admired by more people after his death. His writings have been repeatedly studied by later generations of scholars, and his ideas have been continuously interpreted and disseminated. The study of mind has become a monument in the history of Chinese philosophy, influencing countless thinkers and ordinary people.
In Wang Yangming's philosophy, light is a central concept. He believes that there is a light in everyone's heart, and this light is the pursuit of truth and goodness. Even in the last moments of his life, in the face of illness and the threat of death, Wang Yangming still insisted on this light. His last words, "This heart is bright, what can be said" is a summary of his lifelong philosophical pursuit, and it is also the last admonition to posterity.
end
Wang Yangming's life has been a journey full of challenges and contradictions. He suffered many political blows and suffered from illness in his personal life, but he never gave up the pursuit of knowledge and truth. His philosophical ideas and educational career are his most precious legacy to the world. Even today, hundreds of years after his death, Wang Yangming's mind remains a treasure in the treasury of Chinese and even world philosophy. Although Wang Yangming's life is over, his philosophical thoughts and spiritual legacy will forever illuminate the path of future generations. His story teaches us that even in the darkest of times, if there is light in our hearts, we can find our way forward. Wang Yangming's life and his psychology are a profound exploration of the bright side of human nature, and an eternal inquiry into the meaning of life.