The core of Wang Yangming’s philosophy of mind is to cultivate conscience.
"Conscience" is the "knowledge" of "knowing what is right and what is wrong", and "zhi" means to practice things and see them in objective reality. "To achieve conscience" means to realize conscience in practical actions and to unite knowledge and action. "To Conscience" is the direct unity of ontology and cultivation theory of Wang Shouren's philosophy of mind.
The essence of Wang Yangming’s thought is the study of mind, and his thought actually comes from the thought of Mencius, the sub-sage of Confucianism. Mencius believed that everyone has conscience and ability. This conscience and ability are like our limbs and are innately present in our hearts. After Zhu Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty, Wang Yangming was influenced by Lu Jiuyuan's theory of "My heart is the universe, and the universe is my heart". After experiencing countless hardships and obstacles in the world, Wang Yangming attained enlightenment in the vast wilderness of Longchang, Guizhou, and created a new world. His theory of mind.
Wang Yangming’s system of psychology includes three aspects. The first is that the heart is the reason; the second is the unity of knowledge and action; the third is the development of conscience. These constitute the three pillars of Wang Yangming's mind-study building, but the most core one is his thought of promoting conscience.
Memorial of Wang Shouren's later generations
1. Former residence
Wang Shouren's former residence is located on Wushengmen Road at the northern foot of Longquan Mountain, Yuyao Town, Yuyao City, Zhejiang Province. In the eighth year of the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty (1472), Wang Shouren was born here. The major buildings in the former residence are arranged from south to north according to the central axis, including the foyer, sedan hall, brick gatehouse, hall, Ruiyun Tower, and rear hood. There are side rooms on both sides of the hall.
The former residence covers a total area of ??4,800 square meters. Among them, Ruiyun Tower is the place where Wang Shouren was born. It has been restored to its original state and turned into an exhibition hall of Wang Shouren's historical sites. The hall is a place for Wang family members to discuss matters and important celebrations. Other buildings, such as the brick-carved gatehouse and sedan hall, have gone through the vicissitudes of time and still maintain their original style. In March 1997, it was announced as a cultural relic protection unit in Yuyao City.
2. Mausoleum
The tomb of Wang Shouren is located in Xianxia Villa, 2 miles south of Lanting Town, the holy place of calligraphy, Shaoxing County, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province. The tomb of Wang Shouren faces south, with its back to the hills and its slopes. It rises step by step, with a broad view and excellent Feng Shui.
The tomb is 10 meters in diameter, with a total length of more than 70 meters, more than a hundred steps, and a four-story platform, all carefully carved from stone. It is majestic and is a typical Ming Dynasty tomb building in Zhejiang. The cemetery covers an area of ??nearly 2,000 square meters at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by dozens of ancient pine trees, creating a solemn and solemn environment.
Reference for the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Wang Yangming