The formulation called Zen-like Confucianism means that Lu and Wang’s philosophy of Neo-Confucianism absorbed some Buddhist thoughts, especially Zen thoughts. Comparing the thoughts of Confucianism and Buddhism, this paper focuses on the influences Zen thoughts exerted on Wang Yangming’s philosophy of the mind, and tries to find out the characteristics of Yangming Study which apparently look like Zen but with the essence of Confucianism. The comments which Buddhists thought that Yangming was similar to a Buddhist were also revealed in this paper. Moreover, through the comparison of Yangming’s ideas such as mind is idea, extension of innate knowledge and the unity of knowledge and practice and Buddhists’ thoughts like mind is Buddha, find one’s true self and meditation and wisdom, the paper explains how Yangming Study absorbed Buddhist thoughts.
