Wang Yangming's Biography

In the vast starry sky of history, there are always some characters who shine brightly, and Wang Yangming is one of them. With his extraordinary wisdom, profound thoughts and legendary experiences, he left a strong mark on the long scroll of Chinese civilization, which is admired and remembered by future generations. Wang Yangming, named Shouren and courtesy name Bo'an, was born in Yuyao, Zhejiang Province. He was known as Mr. Yangming because he built his house in Yangming Cave. He was born into a farming and studying family, and showed a unique temperament when he was young. He didn't speak until he was five years old, but his words were astonishing. From then on, he became even more agile and talented. When he was twelve years old, when asked by his teacher, "What is the first thing in the world?", He replied loudly and resonantly: "Be a sage!" This answer was like a seed that planted a lifelong pursuit in his heart and set the tone for his extraordinary life. However, Wang Yangming's path to sainthood was not smooth sailing. He went through the "Five Drunk" stages, and was successively addicted to the habits of knights, riding and archery, Ci Zhang, gods, and Buddhism. These seemingly sideways experiences were actually his active exploration of the value of life and physical and mental settlement, which paved the way for his future philosophical breakthroughs. From the perspective of orthodox Confucianism, although these knowledge are not fundamental to physical, mental and life, it is these rich experiences that gave him a deeper understanding of the world and himself. After Wang Yangming entered his official career, he offended the powerful by speaking out for justice, so he was sentenced to prison and demoted to Longchang, Guizhou after receiving forty bans from the imperial staff. Longchang, this remote, desolate and lonely place, became the turning point of his life...