Many modern scholars have criticized Zhu Xi's science and advocated Wang Yangming's psychology.
But in Wang Yangming's time, Zhu Xi's science was very popular, and even the imperial examination was science.
So, what is the difference between Wang Yangming's psychology and Zhu Xi's science?
1. There are different interpretations of "learning from things".
Zhu Xi's theory of "learning from things" translates as "** all things to obtain knowledge".
Wang Yangming had studied Zhu Xi's science, and when he saw this explanation, he went to check the bamboo, but after several days, the person was tired and fainted, and he did not make sense.
So it was concluded that Zhu Xi's interpretation of "learning from things" had loopholes, and the truth was not in external objects, but in the heart.
Therefore, Wang Yangming's interpretation of "learning from things" is, "realizing conscience through righteous thoughts in things." ”
It means that when you encounter something, there will be thoughts, and then ask your heart if the thoughts are right.
Because evil thoughts make people troubled and painful, but righteous thoughts make people happy.
Therefore, from time to time adjusting the thoughts that make you annoyed to the thoughts that make you happy, it is called "righteous thoughts." (正" is a verb).
To act according to this idea is to realize one's conscience.
2. Finding and solving problems.
Teacher Du Yinshan believes that Zhu Xi is looking for problems when there are no problems, while Wang Yangming only solves problems when he faces them.
He gave an example:
If someone brings a pot of roast duck, Zhu Xi will consult the roast duck master how to roast it, what the temperature is, read books and study, and then come to a conclusion:
Raw duck is not as delicious as roast duck, and its reason is "how to see a rainbow without experiencing wind and rain"? It's about looking for a problem when there's no one.
And in the "Biography", it is said, ** asked: "The sage's adaptability is endless, could it be that he has also studied and explored it in advance?" ”
Wang Yangming replied, how can you explore and learn so much in advance? It's just that the saint's heart is like a mirror, and he can feel and adapt freely at any time.
It's about solving problems when they are.
3. Psychology can accommodate science.
Wang Yangming's mind can accommodate science, because mind is the study of joining the WTO to create meritorious deeds, and people at that time wanted to enter the WTO, they had to pass the imperial examination (science), so Wang Yangming said that "sacred science (mind science) is not harmful to the profession."
It was also said in the Biography that a friend specifically picked Zhu Xi's fault.
Wang Yangming said that there is a slight difference between him and Zhu Xi only at the beginning of the entry, but the heart of pursuing the truth is the same.
It is also said that Zhu Xi is "spirited", but the mistake is that Zhu Xi first learned a lot of knowledge and research, but there is no "self-study", that is, there is no practical application, there is no unity of knowledge and action, there is more theory and less practice.
In his later years, Zhu Xi knew that some of his theories were wrong, and he immediately changed them, but because of his death, many mistakes in his early years were not corrected.