Global Scholars Gather to Explore the Contemporary Value and International Influence of Yangming’s Thought
YUYAO, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China, October 30, 2025 — The 2025 Wang Yangming Philosophy Conference, themed “Boundless Mind · Shared Civilization,” was held today in Yuyao, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. The event brought together over 800 guests — including scholars from China and abroad, representatives from historical Yangming sites, and figures from various sectors — to explore the contemporary significance and global dissemination of Yangming philosophy.
The conference was hosted by the Ningbo Municipal People’s Government and organized by the Publicity Department of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee, the Ningbo Federation of Social Sciences (Ningbo Academy of Social Sciences), and the Yuyao Municipal People’s Government. In addition to the main event, several sub-forums were held, including the International Symposium on Yangming Culture and the “Zhongtian Pavilion Dialogue: Wang Yangming’s Philosophy and Contemporary China” featuring Professor Wang Defeng.
Carrying Forward Cultural Heritage, Opening a New Chapter
The year 2025 marks the 553rd anniversary of Wang Yangming’s birth. At the main session of the conference, more than 300 participants reflected on history and its modern resonance, working together to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of Yangming philosophy.
Among the keynote speakers were Liu Xiaofeng, Vice Chairman of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC); Zhang Ping, member of the 12th and 13th National People’s Congress Standing Committees; Huo Xiaoguang, Vice President of Xinhua News Agency; Zhao Cheng, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and Head of the Publicity Department; Li Zhongjie, Vice President of the Chinese Society for CPC History and former Deputy Director of the Party History Research Office of the CPC Central Committee; and Tang Feifan, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee and Mayor of Ningbo.
In his keynote speech, Dr. Wang Xuequn, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Ancient History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, delivered an address titled “Wang Yangming’s Thought from the Perspective of Civilizational Dialogue.” He emphasized that Yangming’s philosophy embodies insights that transcend time and culture, offering valuable intellectual resources for mutual learning and integration among civilizations.
Zhang Xuezhi, Vice President of the International Confucian Association and Vice President of the Chinese Confucius Society, spoke on “Wang Yangming’s Innate Knowledge and the Unity of All Things.” He noted that Wang’s philosophy is not a doctrine confined to books but a living wisdom practiced in life, aimed at enhancing both intellectual and moral cultivation.
Cross-Cultural Exchange and Civilizational Integration
How can Yangming’s philosophy transcend regional and cultural boundaries to reach a wider world? The International Symposium on Yangming Culture provided a vital platform for cross-cultural dialogue.
Speakers included Professor Wen Haiming, Director of the Center for Yi Studies at Renmin University of China; Professor Aonobu Nagatomi of Waseda University, Japan; and Professor Masaki Tanaka of Nishogakusha University, former Director of its Yangming Studies Center. They discussed topics such as the relationship between Yangming studies and Yi philosophy, the transmission and influence of Yangming thought in Japan, and the dialogue between Yangming philosophy and phenomenology — deepening mutual understanding and fostering cultural coexistence.
Yangming philosophy continues to thrive internationally, inspiring new interpretations and perspectives. Zhang Xuezhi, Professor Rentaro Sato (Emeritus Professor, Hokkaido University), and four other scholars shared their latest findings on the relevance of Yangming’s thought to modern humanity and its resonance across civilizations.
During the roundtable session, experts observed that Yangming’s core concepts — “the extension of innate moral knowledge” and “the unity of knowledge and action” — continue to nurture contemporary wisdom, offering profound guidance for moral cultivation, social ethics, and inter-civilizational dialogue.
Bringing Philosophy to the People
One of the conference’s highlights was its effort to make culture accessible to the public. Professor Wang Defeng from Fudan University’s School of Philosophy delivered a special public lecture titled “Wang Yangming’s Philosophy and Contemporary China,” attracting over 800 attendees, including cultural enthusiasts and local residents.
Professor Wang outlined the intellectual structure of Yangming philosophy, summarizing its key tenets as “Mind is Principle,” “Unity of Knowledge and Action,” and “Extension of Innate Knowledge.” He emphasized that true understanding comes from practice — genuine mind cultivation requires continuous reflection and life engagement.
Expanding on its contemporary relevance, he noted that revisiting Yangming’s philosophy today means continuing Wang’s unfinished enlightenment project — awakening individual moral consciousness and nurturing independent character.
In the interactive Q&A session, Professor Wang engaged with participants on topics such as resilience in business management and how beginners can approach Yangming studies. He advised entrepreneurs to maintain composure and patience in times of hardship and recommended that newcomers begin by studying The Records of Teaching and Practice (Chuanxilu) — a compilation of dialogues between Wang Yangming and his disciples that illuminates the heart of his philosophy.
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