This book is a comprehensive and intensive analysis of the philosophy of Wang Yang-ming (1472-1529),the Chinese Neo-Confucian scholar,soldier and statesman,whose thinking influenced the course of history in both China and Japan. The book gives a short historical introduction,an outline chronology of Wang's life,leading to a discussion of truth and ideology in the context of such schools as Confucianism,Buddhism and Taoism,out of which emerged Wang's original reinterpretation of ancient classical texts. It places some emphasis upon the similarities and differences between Wang's thought and that of the earlier Chu Hsi (1130-1200),considered as the orthodox interpreter of the Confucian tradition. Selected translations from Wang's essays and poems are also given.