Wang Yangming's View on Knowledge and Action

Wang Yangming's view on knowledge and action countered that of Zhu Xi. As the representative view in Ming Dynasty, Wang Yangming's view on knowledge and action could be summarized into two ways.

Firstly, knowledge and action were united. Zhu Xi viewed that knowledge appeared first, which tended to split knowledge and action. To counter Zhu Xi's view, Wang Yangming proposed the unity of knowledge and action: "Knowledge and action are inseparable... Therefore, one makes progress by uniting them." (The Analects of Wang Yangming [Chuan Xi Lu], Vol. 2) How could knowledge and action be united? Wang Yangming said,

Knowledge guides action and action embodies knowledge. Knowledge is the start of action and action is the end of knowledge. (The Analects of Wang Yangming [Chuan XiLu], Vol. 1)

Action indicates to what extent one understands knowledge; knowledge indicates whether action is right. (The Analects of Wang Yangming [Chuan Xi Lu[, Vol.2)

Wang Yangming explained, "Knowledge and action tell the same meaning which consists of two sides." ("Rely to Friend") As above mentioned, Wang Yangming's view was clear: Knowledge and action embodied and influenced each other. Action existed in knowledge and knowledge existed in action. In a word, knowledge and action were indivisible. Admittedly, Wang Yangming's view sounded reasonable.

Secondly, one acted first before he learnt knowledge and knowledge and action happened at the same time. Based on the view that knowledge and action were united, Wang Yangming stressed the importance of action. Different from Zhu Xi, Wang Yangming observed action appeared earlier than knowledge. He exemplified, "One knows the taste of food only after he has tasted it. How could he know that if he has not tasted it?" (The Analects of Wang Yangming [Chuan Xi Lu], Vol.2) He gave such examples as: "One who learns shoot must pull the bow and hit the target; one who learns calligraphy must prepare paper and ink and write in the wooden tablet with brush; one who learns filiality must work hard and supports his parents." Therefore, "One could not obtain knowledge without action." (The Analects of Wang Yangming [Chuan Xi Lu], Vol.2) It was obvious that Wang Yangming's view embodied the thought that knowledge came from action. However, his overstatement of action conduce theoretical fallacy. Like Zhu Xi, by action, Wang Yangming meant morality. Therefore, to Wang Yangming, human's action all related to morality. He said, "When one sees the nice color, this is knowledge. When one likes nice color, this is action. When one sees the nice color again and likes it, this is not because he sees the color." (The Analects of Wang Yangming [Chuan Xi Lu], Vol. 1) Wang Yangming clearly stated the importance and correctness of action. He further suggested, "One acts when there is idea in his mind." (The Analects of Wang Yangming [Chuan Xi Lu], Vol. 3) This view fell into the trap of mentalism as it replaced action with subjective motive, or will and spirit.