Wang Gen

Also known as Zi Ruzhi · Hao Xinzhai

Wang Gen, courtesy name Ruzhi, styled Xinzhai, came from a hereditary salt-boiling family at Anfengchang in Taizhou and was first named Wang Yin. Too poor to stay at school, he once took his father's place at forced labour in winter, and taught himself from the Classic of Filial Piety, the Analects and the Great Learning. In 1520 he went to Jiangxi to debate Wang Yangming, was won over and became his disciple, and Wang renamed him Gen. He then drove a cart of his own making to the capital, preaching to crowds along the way, which so displeased his teacher that Wang Gen had to kneel and apologise before he was received again. Never taking office, he taught as a commoner that the Way lies in ordinary people's daily lives, and his followers were mostly commoners. He died at home in January 1541. The History of Ming names him and Wang Ji as the disciples who best carried on Wang Yangming's school.