Research On Wang Yangming 's Sports Thought

For the idealists in Song and Ming Dynasty, it is their commontopic as for how to seek for the ideal life style and attitude by exploring the relationsbetween people and the ones between humans and the other things in the world basedon their cosmology. Their research mainly gave answers to “what human being is”,“what the relations between humans and the other things in the world are” and “whatthe best way to live is”. Although they had different answers, their common topic hadnever changed.Wang Yangming, as the most famous thinker, philosopher and militarist in theMing Dynasty, was a highest achiever in philosophy. After experiencing millions ofhardship, he advocates the extension of innate knowledge by realizing the truth ofphilosophy. He was worldwide famous for his deep thoughts. The formation of hissports ideology owes to the politic atmosphere, the academic status of that day and hisown experience. This research discusses the background of the formation of histhoughts, his main sports ideology, his sports experiences and their influences throughdocuments, video observation, field research, expert research and logic analysis. It aimsto explore his sports ideology in a more detailed and intensive way and providesreference to the following research on his sports ideology. It illustrates his sportsideology from two aspects, the ideological level and the sports practice. The main partsare as follows.First, it’s the philosophical aspect on sports. The gist and precondition of hissports ideology is that all things are connected as a whole. To culture morality and tokeep in good health are concrete representations of the idea that everything isintegrative. They are achieved by the extension of innate knowledge and are mainlyrepresented by the unity of knowledge and action, thus maintaining our own health andfulfilling our responsibility to every thing. Happiness is a state of mind itself. Thehappiness and health of our body and mind can be promoted by maintaining our innerhappiness. However, the primary method to maintain inner happiness is to reduce ourmaterial requirements, not losing our conscience. His view of life and death embodieshis attitude towards life and his Confucian spirit that one will give up his life for justice.Second, his ideas for physical education mainly embody in his enlighteningeducational thoughts. We should arrange our teaching materials and adopt certainteaching methods based on the students’ age, growth and psychological characteristics.We should promote their growth of knowledge and body through activities, enablingstudents to learn in a relaxed and happy mood. Third, it discusses his military thoughts. He maintains that soldiers should be fewbut good. Therefore, the military leader should be versed both in literature and militaryaffairs. He advocates recruiting soldiers who are highly skilled in military drills, ridingand shooting and then training them individually according to their strong points.At last, it introduces his experiences in practicing kung fu, riding, shooting and hisways to maintain good health.He feels the connection between humans and other things through conscience. Hehighlights conscience by means of the highest good. And he thinks that for humanbeings, to maintain the integration of humans with other things is a way to fostermorality and keep good health.