A Study On Wang Gen's Civilian Confucianism Thoughts

Wang Gen is a disciple of Wang Yangming and the creator of the Taizhou School.But academia has a complex evaluation for Wang Gen and Taizhou School with praise or belittle.What his most special feature is that he spreads the Confucianism from the elite to the civilians.This article mainly focuses on Wang Gen's inheritance and development of Yangming's theory and his own experience of civilian in the background of the middle and late Ming Dynasty.This paper studies Wang Gen's theory of Honoring the Body and People Daily is Tao and his practice teaching.And what's more,this article wants to interpret his theory and explores his influence on the folklore of Confucianism.This paper is divided into four parts.The first chapter mainly explores Wang Gen's civilian Confucianism thoughts' origins.The society transformation in the middle and late Ming Dynasty and the changes of people's vales are the important external factors.And from the inner way,Wang Yangming's theory has an important influence on Wang Gen.What's more,Wang Gen's commoner identity and his special experience are also the important factors.The second chapter mainly introduces the civilian character of his thought of Honoring the Body.After Wang Gen's re-interpretation of the book of University,he interprets “Gewu” as “regard the body as the principle” and interprets the“Zhizhishan” as “make the body secure”.And he forms his unique thought of Huainan-Gewu.His thought of Huainan-Gewun implys the meaning of making the body secure.And he also proposes the thought of being worldly wise and making oneself safe and making the body safe to build the principle in the foundation of Huainan-Gewu.His body has two meanings.One refers to the flesh and shows the individual's value and promotes the citizen stratum's awakening.Another refers to cultivating one's moral character and pointing out the holy way for the civilians and promoting Confucianism secularization.The third chapter mainly introduces the civilian character of his thought of People Daily is Tao.At first,Wang Gen's thought of People Daily is Tao stems from Wang Yangming,and Wang Gen's theoretical contribution is combining the “Tao”with the “People Daily”.Secondly,the thought of People Daily is Tao has two connotations.One includes the conscience on the ontology.Another includes the problem of knowing,which results to People Daily but unknown and proposes the advice of let those who know teach those who don't.At last,the followers develop thethought of People Daily is Tao.The last chapter mainly introduces Wang Gen's teaching practice of educating the vulgar.Wang Gen regards the teacher's principle as his own duty.And he hopes to realize the ideal realm of every good men with a house that can be sealed.His teaching practice has vivid civilian character.His Confucianism thought is simple and his teaching context is popular.He not only cultivates a large of civilian Confucian,but also influences the Taizhou School's civilian spirits.Wang Gen proposes the Confucianism thought of Honoring the Body and People Daily is Tao and practice the teaching activity of let those who know teach those who don't.He promotes the Confucianism to the civilians to a large extent.His strong social responsibility and his practice spirits shine with the brilliance anyhow.His civilian Confucianism thought and his teaching practice also have enlightenment significance to the outlet of modern Confucianism.