Yuyao: The 2025 Conference on Wang Yangming Mind Philosophy commenced in Yuyao, Ningbo, marking a significant cultural event in honor of the renowned Chinese philosopher Wang Yangming. The conference, themed ‘boundless mind studies, coexisting civilizations,’ featured various activities, including the Sino-Foreign Exchange Symposium on Wang Yangming Culture and the ‘Zhongtian Pavilion Forum: Wang Defeng Session.’ Over 800 participants, comprising global scholars and representatives from the National Alliance for the Preservation and Research of Wang Yangming Historical Sites, attended the event.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Yuyao, the birthplace of Wang Yangming, continues to carry his legacy. The city of Ningbo has embedded his influence deeply, with more than 400 local enterprises bearing the name ‘Yangming’ and 12 of Yuyao’s 122 schools named after him. Cultural efforts, such as the Yaoju opera ‘Wang Yangming’ touring internationally and ‘Yangming Cultural Products’ showcased in Milan, emphasize the philosopher’s global impact. Short videos ‘Wang Yangming Anecdotes’ have been released overseas, and the slogan ‘Yuyao, hometown of Wang Yangming, gathers wisdom’ has gained international recognition, offering a perspective for the world to understand China.
In Ningbo, Wang Yangming’s influence manifests in various forms, from research on his culture to innovative expressions of his principles. Local enterprises, such as Pairdeer Batteries and the ‘Sunny’ optical lens, highlight the city’s creative transformation and development of traditional Chinese heritage. The Ningbo Yangming Industrial Technology Research Institute has fostered 17 enterprises above the statistical threshold through innovative incubation.
The reach of Wang Yangming Culture extends beyond China’s borders, integrating into global societies and intellectual traditions. Professor Nagatomi Seiji from Waseda University noted its significant impact in Japan, emphasizing the principle of ‘unity of knowledge and action’ in business practices. He highlighted Ningbo’s unique place in Japanese culture due to historical ties with the Ming Dynasty and Wang Yangming’s contributions.
The Korean Peninsula also has a rich history of Wang Yangming Culture dissemination, influencing local thought and society. Recent years have seen a growing global interest in Wang Yangming, with breakthroughs in research spanning continents. The philosophy’s spirit of ‘harmony in diversity’ aligns with the pluralistic orientation of globalization, offering fresh perspectives for cultural exchange and dialogue.
