A Study On The Theory Of "Extention Of The Intuitive Knowledge" Of Wang Yang-ming

In Neo-Confucianism of the Song and Ming period, the opposite side of Cheng and Zhu's Philosophy of Objective Idealism is the Philosophy of Subjective Idealism which is under the representation of Lu Jiu-yuan and Wang Yang-ming , that's the so called "School of Mind ". Lu Jiu-yuan, according Chenhao's thought of "Scholars should firstly learn humanity", presented the basic thesis of Subjective Idealism, i.e. "the Universe is just my mind, my mind just the Universe", and debated some questions with Zhuxi. But, comparing with Zhuxi's Philosophic system, Lu's is neither all-round nor much impressive. Until the middle period of Ming, Wang Yang-ming developt subtle and completed philosophic system and became a great man of Philosophy of Mind.The whole life of Wang Yang-ming was legendary and his history was particular and different with others'. His theory had relations with his history and was also embodiment and summary. On the other hand, Commodity Economy and Doctrine of Accomplishment and Profit undermined the function of Neo-Confucianism. The influence of Cheng and Zhu's theory was gradually becoming weak and the morality of society had become bad. The above two reasons were the historic backgroud of the coming of Yang-ming's philosophy.Since Wang Yang-ming revealed the thought of "Extention of the Intuitive Knowledge" at age of fifty, the content of "Intuitive Knowledge" was developt incessantly. Although his theory was idealism, it would become a bright eyeball if we could utilize the good part and depose the bad part. The reasons that I discuss Yang-ming's thought of "Extention of the Intuitive Knowledge" possibly lie in the above accounts.The paper consists five parts:In the first part, I discuss the basic structure of Yang-ming's Philosophy of Mind that was the theoretic basis of the paper. And the portrayal of his history revealed the background of the production of the thought of " Extention of the Intuitive Knowledge".Secondly, I introduce the special five connotations of "Intuitive Knowledge". One: It was the respondence and reflection of "Tian Li". Two:It was the fundamental of the coming of things. Three: It was the mind of right and wrong. Four.Thought is the existence and application of "Intuitive Knowledge". Five: It was one kind of calling.Thirdly, I explicate the incessant relations between "Extention of the Intuitive Knowledge" and "Unity of Knowledge and Practice". The former itself could accomplish "Unity of Knowledge and Practice", and the latter, in fact, was embraced in the former. Through the comparison with Cheng and Zhu's "Investigate things to extend knowledge", we could find the particular part of Yang-ming's "Extention of the Intuitive Knowledge".Fourthly, I learn of the educational thought of "Extention of the Intuitive Knowledge" which had much benefits to our modern pedagogy and it's reform.Lastly, I point out the important role of "Extention of the Intuitive Knowledge". In Yang Ming's "Philosophy of Mind", We can generalize the meaning with one sentence that "Extention of the Intuitive knowledge" was the principle of schooling of Yang-ming's whole life and the kernel and basis of Yang Ming's philosophy.