The Yangming Faction of Scholar-Officials and the Politics of the Early Years of the Reign of Emperor Jiajing : On the Political Ethics of the Yangming School

The accession of Emperor Jiajing 嘉靖 of China's Ming dynasty to the throne was accompanied by a controversy over the proper imperial rituals 大禮議. Chief Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe 楊廷和, who enjoyed the support of the majority of the court officials, requested that Emperor Jiajing recognize his uncle Emperor Hongzhi as his father. At the same time, Emperor Jiajing was also asked to treat his own father as his uncle. Deeply disturbed, Emperor Jiajing sought to reject Yang's request. With the support of Zhang Cong 張璁 and other junior officials, Emperor Jiajing succeeded in politically defeating Yang Tinghe. Following the controversy, Zhang Cong and other supporters of Emperor Jiajing began to rise within the Ming government and eventually formed the ruling administration. During Zhang Cong's tenure as Chief Grand Secretary, a number of scholars who served in the government were disciples of Wang Yangming 王陽明, the founder the Yangming school of thought 陽明學, an important branch of Neo-Confucianism. Examining the political views of those Yangming scholars, who maintained contact with Wang Yangming until his death in 1528, helps us better understand the political stand of the Yangming school. They supported the political reforms launched by Zhang Cong and Gui E 桂萼, the two leading members of Zhang Cong's administration. The Yangming school was clearly in favor of reforms to restore the political and economic order of the Ming dynasty. However, there were also notable differences between Zhang and Gui and other Yangming scholars. Eager to implement their policies, while pursuing their personal power, Zhang and Gui continued to engage in factional politics against other powerful members within the government. As a result, Zhang's administration grew unstable, and his reforms were delayed. Yangming scholars sought to bring together Zhang Cong, Gui E, and other political figures. Such actions show the influence of the teachings of Wang Yangming, who instructed his pupils to restore their moral intelligence 良知 in order to restrain their arrogance, ill temper, and the pursuit of power. Wang's goal was to introduce mutual trust among politicians and the emperor into the administration of Ming's politics so that policies whose effects would be felt over the long term could be implemented. Examining the teachings of Wang Yangming reveals the political ethic of the Yangming school of thought