On the morning of January 9, 2022, a commemorative event for the 493rd anniversary of the death of Mr. Wang Yangming was held at Luoxing Pavilion, Qinglong Town (Qinglongpu), Dayu County, Jiangxi Province.
Although I have not read Mr. Yangming’s books, his reputation is well known. Reading Mr. Yangming’s books requires meditation. Let’s take a brief look at it first. Otherwise, as a descendant of Southern Jiangxi, I will always feel guilty, which is really embarrassing!
1. Introduction
Wang Shouren (October 31, 1472 - January 9, 1529), Han nationality, his childhood name was Yun, his courtesy name was Bo'an, and his alias was Yangming. A native of Yuyao County, Shaoxing Prefecture, Zhejiang Province (now part of Yuyao, Ningbo), he named himself Yangmingzi because he once built a house in Yangming Cave in Kuaiji Mountain. Scholars called him Mr. Yangming, also known as Wang Yangming.
Wang Yangming is a rare all-round Confucian in Chinese history. He is not only a thinker, educator, writer, calligrapher, philosopher, but also a military strategist in the Ming Dynasty. He is proficient in the three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. The comprehensive collection of these theories is known as "Yangming Xinxue" in the world.
In the twelfth year of Hongzhi (1499), he was a Jinshi. He successively served as chief of the Ministry of Justice, Longchang Yicheng of Guizhou, magistrate of Luling, censor of Youqiandu, governor of Southern Jiangxi, and governor of Guangdong and Guangxi. In his later years, he served in Nanjing. Minister of the Ministry of War, Yushi of Zuodu, Duchayuan. For his military service in quelling the Chenhao Rebellion, he was granted the title of Xinjian Bo. During the Longqing period, he was posthumously awarded the title of Xinjian Marquis. He was given the posthumous title Wencheng, so later generations also called him Duke Wencheng. Wang Shouren (the master of Xinxue), Confucius (the founder of Confucianism), Mencius (the master of Confucianism), and Zhu Xi (the master of Neo-Confucianism) are collectively known as Confucius, Mencius, Zhu, and Wang.
2. Works
Wang Yangming (Wang Shouren)'s works include philosophical works "Answers to Gu Dongqiao", "Records of Biography", "Answers to Friends", "Academic Questions", "Quotations"; poems include "The Beginning of Spring", "Viewing Puppet Rhymes", and "Zhoushan New Year's Eve"; essays include "Ji Travel" and "With Mao Xianfu"; the prose "Return to Hermitage"; and the collection of works include "The Complete Works of Wang Wencheng" and It is called "The Complete Works of Yangming" and so on.
3. In Ganzhou
1. Suppression of bandits
In the eleventh year of Zhengde (1516), in the rolling mountainous area on the border of the four provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangxi and Hunan, Many bandits were rampant, attacking cities and plundering territory, and became enemies of each other, becoming a serious problem for the imperial court. Wang Yangming was recommended by the Minister of War to be promoted to the imperial censor of Zuo Qiandu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and was the governor of Nan (An), Gan (zhou), Ting (zhou), and Zhang (zhou).
When Wang Yangming took office, on the basis of investigation and research, he carried out a series of measures such as night interrogation of old officials, interception of traitors, elimination of traitors, implementation of the "Ten Family Cards", formation of militia, and military exercises, etc. Then, we adopted the strategy of attacking from the east and attacking from the west by adopting the tactics of attacking from the east and attacking from the west. We defeated the bandits in Tonggangshantou in Hengshui, Zhangnan and southern Gansu. In just one year and three months, we successfully suppressed the bandits that had been causing harm to the local area for decades. Eradicate them all.
In Wang Yangming’s view, it is easy to break thieves in the mountains, but it is difficult to break thieves in the heart. Killing the thieves in the mountains is something that only capable ministers can do; and eradicating selfish desires and evil thoughts in people's hearts is the unparalleled great deeds of "sages".
2. Running schools and giving lectures
He renovated the Lianxi Academy of Song Dynasty Confucian Zhou Dunyi in Dayu, southern Gansu, founded Yangming Academy in Ganzhou, and also taught in Longnan, Yudu and other county capitals. Founded more than 20 academies and social schools. What he talked about most in his lectures was "conscience" and "conscience".
Wang Yangming's genealogy has a clear record: "Mr. said that the people's customs are not good because the education is not clear. Fortunately, the thieves have calmed down a little and the people's poverty has gradually subsided. Although it is not possible to do all the things that should be done to change the customs, let's give it a try. Those who are simple and easy to practice will be enlightened and taught. The fathers and sons of the counties in Nan and Jiangxi will encourage each other, set up schools, teach their children, sing poems and practice etiquette... Over time, Yong Yong Ran gradually became a courtesy. "It's vulgar."
3. Understand "conscience"
While suppressing the rebellion in Gan County, Wang Yangming persisted in studying and promoting Taoism, and realized the word "conscience", and began to reveal the meaning of "conscience". "Conscience", thereby completing the understanding and practice of the unity of knowledge and action, the inner sage and the outer king.
Wang Yangming’s great contribution lies not only in his in-depth exploration of the long-lost “conscience”, but also in the fact that he proposed a methodological approach to “leading to conscience” and truly achieved it in his own life practice "Unity of knowledge and action" and "leading to conscience".
As Fang Zhiyuan, an expert on Ming history, said, if the banishment to Longchang began to create Wang Yangming in the history of Chinese philosophy, the appointment of governor Ting and Zhang in southern Gansu created Wang Yangming in the history of Chinese politics. It is these two aspects Mutual stimulation and mutual combination created a complete Wang Yangming who will last through the ages.
3. Died of illness in Qinglongpu
On November 25, the seventh year of Jiajing (January 5, 1529), Wang Yangming crossed the border between Guangdong and Jiangxi from Nanxiong Mansion, Guangdong Meiguan in Dayuling Mountain enters Nan'an Prefecture in Jiangxi Province. Afterwards, he entered the Lingyan Temple in Dayuya Mountain to take a short rest.
The "Dayu County Chronicles Volume 15 Magazines Supplements" published in the eighth edition of the Republic of China has a special record about this: "Wang Wencheng went to Nan'an to visit a temple (referring to Yashan Ling). Yan Temple). First, a senior monk in the temple was about to enter silence. He ordered his disciple to hold the key to the Zen room and not open it. He said, "I'll wait until I arrive." When Wen Cheng saw that his key was very solid, he asked his disciple. Report. Wen Cheng said: "It's my fault." There was a book on it, and it was covered with dust. I brushed it and read it: "In the fifty-seventh year, Wang Shouren opened my key and brushed my dust. If I ask about what happened before, The one who opens the door is the one who closes the door. '" Wang Yangming was shocked after reading and immediately took his entourage out of the temple and down the mountain.
A few days later, on November 29, the seventh year of Jiajing (January 9, 1529), Wang Yangming died of illness in Qinglongpu, Dayu County, Nan'an Prefecture, Jiangxi Province (now Qinglong, Dayu County, Jiangxi Province) Town) in the boat. On his deathbed, he said to his disciple Zhou Ji, "I'm leaving." Hearing this, Zhou Ji burst into tears and asked him what his last words were. He said, "My heart is bright, so what else can I say!" "After a while, he passed away with his eyes closed at the age of 57.
4. Luoxing Pavilion
As the mainstream theory in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, "Yangmingology" was later spread to Japan and had a great influence on Japan and East Asia.
In 1994, Okada Takehiko, an honorary professor at Kyushu University in Japan and a contemporary Japanese Confucianist, mobilized 280 Japanese friends and civil society organizations to generously contribute funds, and with the assistance of the Zhejiang Academy of Social Sciences, he built a new wafer on the old fairing in Chijiang Village, Qinglong Town. On the bank of Zhangjiang River (ie Laoqinglongpu), "Wang Yangming's Luoxing Pavilion" was built.
The memorial pavilion is a four-cornered pavilion with a relatively simple structure, with a glazed tile gourd roof and four corners with raised eaves. There is a marble stele erected in the pavilion, which is 2.14 meters high and 1.4 meters wide. On the front of the stele is "The Place where Mr. Wang Yangming's Star Falls" written by Mr. Okada himself, and on the back is the name of the donor.
5. Yangming’s Theory of Mind
The main content of Yangming’s Theory of Mind: The heart is reason. My heart is the law of heaven, and the heart is its true nature. It is originally immovable, neither good nor evil, neither good nor evil. However, the joy, anger, sorrow, and joy after being touched by the scene have a heart of good, evil, right and wrong. At this time, we need to use conscience to correct it. .
To conscience. That is, correct your conscience at any time. When our selfish thoughts first arise, our conscience can sense them immediately, and we must seize this first moment of conscience to get rid of these unwholesome desires. This is to eliminate evil and preserve good. This is also The most critical step in Wang Yangming’s mind-learning. Mr. Wang Yangming concluded: “My lectures throughout my life are just to educate my conscience.”
The unity of knowledge and action. Once you know your conscience, the key lies in specific actions. Whether you want to be lazy or take advantage, your heart has already told you, so can you integrate knowledge with action and make corrections in time? Therefore, Wang Yangming said: "Knowledge is the beginning of action, and action is the completion of knowledge. Only when you know something can you know how to act; only when you know something about action can you know the truth."
"To have a good conscience" means to know the truth. The promotion of conscience is extended to everything. "To achieve conscience" means to realize conscience in practical actions and to unite knowledge and action.
Mr. Yangming focused on the issue of how to achieve conscience. He believed that self-cultivation, sincerity, knowledge, and investigation of things are closely related, and are different aspects of practicing the right mind. To develop conscience is to preserve reason and eliminate desires. The way to stay rational and eliminate desires is to deny yourself.
It turns out that Mr. Yangming has made such great contributions to Nangan. As a descendant of Nangan, I can’t help but admire him! I feel deeply honored to live in Nangan, where Mr. Yangming’s ideas have inspired me.
Today's Hakka people in Nangan are hard-working, simple and kind-hearted; the people live and work in peace and contentment, with simple folk customs and mellow learning styles.
Always remind yourself to remember: "Conscience! To the conscience! Unity of knowledge and action!"
I hope more people can understand Yangming Xinxue and benefit from it. May Mr. Yangming’s spirit be as long-lasting as the water of Zhangjiang River!
Note: The above text comes from the Internet