Ming Dynasty (1472–1529) · Philosophy/Statecraft
Wang Yangming (1472-1529) was a prominent Ming Dynasty official, general, and philosopher. He revolutionized Neo-Confucianism by positing the 'unity of knowledge and action' (知行合一) and the 'extension of innate knowledge' (致良知), asserting that the mind itself is principle. His philosophy emphasized internal cultivation, practical application, and the universal accessibility of sagehood, profoundly influencing East Asian thought.