The Interpretation and Evaluation by Tang Jun-yi on Wang Yang-ming

Abstract

The article focuses on how Tang Jun-yi interprets and evaluates Wang Yang-ming. Yang-ming School aims at clarification thoughts of Wang Yang-ming. Mr. Tang believes that Wang's thoughts were highly affected by Zhu Xi, although the thoughts eventually turned to Lu Xiang-shan. Wang's learning is fact the integration of Zhu's and Lu's. Under the belief of three changes by Qian Xu-Shan, Wang Long-Xi and Huang Li-zhou on Wang, Tang holds that the goal is existence of justice of nature and removal of human desires in the first change of promotion of sitting still to clarify mind, the second change of realization of innate good from the laws of universe or the third change of frequent encounter of the Entity. These inherit and innovate the thoughts of Zhu Xi. He distinguishes the difference in knowing and doing is that Wang focused on knowing and doing in the One while Zhu Xi emphasized knowing before doing. Mr. Tang believes that Wang interpreted the realization of knowing in the Great Learning as realization of innate good. Compared with Zhu Xi, Wang better explained the true meaning in the Great Learning and was closer to the purpose of the Great Learning to cover the entire virtue of patience process. Realization of innate good is more concise than realization of virtue in the world in the Great Learning. Regarding the issue of teaching by four sentences, Mr. Tang holds that Wang only taught people to tell right from wrong and do good instead of bad things for realization of innate good. Thus, the fundamental thought is different from think no good; think no bad in Zen. According to Mr. Tang, the most common disturbance from thoughts of realization of innate good in Yang-ming School that may be borrowed by people is it teaches people to tell right from wrong. The right and wrong I believe has nothing to do with other people, resulting in the greater Ego in Buddhism. The author has different or supplementary comments to Tang Jun-yi's arguments. The most important issue such as Mr. Tang mixed Qian Xu-Shan, Wang Long-Xi and Huang Li-zhou's claims about Wang's teaching are different. Qian Xu-Shan believed Wang's thoughts have three changes is still to be discussed. One shall pay attention not to obscure Wang's understanding and realization in different time. Over-explanation of Zhu Xi's influence on Wang's thoughts is not appropriate. Instead, we shall notice that Zhu's influence is degrading and Wang's thoughts are becoming more independent. The origin of his thoughts is not perfection of knowledge system but profound understanding of the Entity. Also, the author believes the defects of Yang-ming School in late stage are understanding of philosophers of nouslogy of the Self and the Ego is coexisted in the name of innate good, confusing awareness of the individual and awareness of the Entity.