With the generous support of the Center for Chinese Studies, I conducted archival research in 16 local archives and libraries across Jiangxi, Zhejiang, and Guizhou, and interviewed a diverse group of contemporary activists involved in Wang Yangming’s teachings.
In Jiangxi, I discovered critical materials that shed light on how the native-place association of Zhejiang (Wang’s hometown) contributed to the reconstruction of Wang’s shrines in the 1940s. This movement was promoted by Chiang Ching-kuo, who sought to regain political and cultural trust of Chiang Kai-shek by advocating Wang’s learning as a basis for governance. I also collected some political pamphlets on Wang Yangming, produced by both the KMT and CCP regimes in the mid-twentieth century. These pamphlets illustrate how Wang’s teachings were appropriated in political discourse.
In Zhejiang, I explored how Japanese activists of Wang’s learning contributed to its revival in the late twentieth century by aiding the reconstruction of historic sites associated with Wang. This resurgence occurred as the People’s Republic of China shifted away from its anti-traditionalist policies and sought to revive her cultural pride.
In both Jiangxi and Guizhou, I interviewed an array of scholars, entrepreneurs, former officials, and popular practitioners, all of whom helped me gain a deeper understanding of the contemporary network and trajectory of Wang’s teachings in China. Some pursue these teachings for political or economic purposes, while others find spiritual solace in them; many incorporate Wang’s learning into their lives for a variety of reasons.
Additionally, I uncovered a surprising development: Wang Yangming has entered the realm of popular religion in recent decades by becoming a deity of water or rivers in rural areas of Jiangxi and Fujian. This unexpected finding will be the focus of my next fieldwork phase. While I am unsure if I will include these findings in my dissertation, they are fruitful enough to develop a potential side project.
- Hu Hsu
Department of History
CCS 2024 Summer Research Grant