Wang Shouren (1472–1528; some accounts give 1529) was a Ming official, thinker, philosopher, military commander, and calligrapher, and is also known as Wang Yangming.
Originally named Yun and styled Bo'an, he used Yangmingzi as a sobriquet. A native of Yuyao in Zhejiang, he built a retreat in Yangming Cave there, after which scholars called him Yangming xiansheng. He received the posthumous name Wencheng, was enfeoffed as Xinjian bo for military merit, and was posthumously granted Xinjian hou.
Life
At fifteen he traveled among Juyong and Shanhai, observing the configuration of their mountains and rivers; he was interested in military affairs and skilled in archery. His examination record included the provincial tribute degree and a jinshi degree in Hongzhi 12 (1499), in which he placed sixth in the second class.
He was first appointed a secretary in the Ministry of Punishments, although another account gives his initial appointment as a secretary in the Ministry of War. Early in the Zhengde era, after offending Liu Jin, he was beaten at court and banished to serve as post-station superintendent at Longchang in Guizhou; after Liu Jin was executed, he was recalled as magistrate of Luling.
His subsequent appointments included secretary in the Ministry of War's Military Selection Office, vice director in the Ministry of Personnel's Selection Office, director in its Merit Examination Office, junior vice minister of the Court of Imperial Studs, and president of the Court of State Ceremonial; he also served as a co-examiner of the metropolitan examination and an examiner of the provincial examination. In 1516, the eleventh year of Zhengde, he became a Left Vice Censor, soon advanced to Vice Censor-in-Chief, and governed Southern Jiangxi; he later served as Nanjing Minister of War and Chief Censor. His two periods as Nanjing Minister of War are dated to Zhengde 16–the first year of Jiajing and Jiajing 6–7.
As governor of Southern Jiangxi, he suppressed rebellions at the mountain strongholds of Damaoshan, Liantou, and Hengshui, eighty-four in all, and established the counties of Chongyi and Heping. In the fourteenth year of Zhengde he defeated the rebellion of Prince Ning, Zhu Chenhao, and was enfeoffed as Xinjian bo for his military merit.
In 1527, the sixth year of Jiajing, he became general governor of Guangdong and Guangxi while also serving as governor, and suppressed eight Yao strongholds at Duanteng Gorge; his campaigns were uniformly swift and successful. He later sought retirement because of illness and died at Nan'an while returning home.
His grandfather was Wang Tianxu and his father was Wang Hua, who died in 1522; his brother-in-law was Xu Ai (1487–1517), and his only son was Wang Zhengyi (1527–1577). His grandchildren included Wang Chengxun and Wang Chengxue, while his great-grandchildren included Wang Xianjin, Wang Xiantong, Wang Xianhong, and Wang Xianduo. His friends included Wang Jun, Wang Wenyuan, and Zhan Ruoshui.
Thought and literary work
His teaching centered on the extension of innate knowledge, holding that the investigation of things and the extension of knowledge should be sought in one's own mind rather than in external things. Following Lu Jiuyuan's proposition that the mind is principle, he opposed the doctrine of gewu zhizhi advocated by Cheng Yi and Zhu Xi and proposed the unity of knowledge and action.
His thought is regarded as a culmination of the Lu–Wang school; he had a very large following, and his teaching came to be known as the Yaojiang school. He was also conversant with Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism.
His prose was broad and vigorous. In his youth he deliberately cultivated literary form; after gaining insight while living in exile, he no longer concentrated on technical polish, yet his writing retained a naturally forceful and brisk quality. He was also a poet, and in 1520 composed the seven-character poem *Dream Journey to the Yellow Crane Tower: A Reply to Dean Fengshan*, described as an unusually conceived and resonant occasional poem.
Works and posthumous honors
His works include *Instructions for Practical Living*, *The Complete Works of Yangming*, *The Great Learning*, and *The Complete Works of Lord Wang Wencheng*, as well as *Words from the Transmission and Practice*, *Annotations to the Old Text of the Great Learning*, *Questions on the Old Text*, *Essential Sayings of Master Yangming*, *Collected Learning of Principle*, *Compendium of Learning of Principle*, *Collected Learning of Yangming*, and *Military Command and Control*.
After his death he was granted the title Xinjian hou, received the posthumous name Wencheng, and was enshrined in the Confucian temple.
References
- CBDB Wang Shouren (30374)
- 搜韵 王守仁 (50702)
- Wikidata Wang Yangming (Q378462)
- 法鼓佛教人名规范数据库 王守仁 (A006963)