Online lecture. In recent years, Wang Yangming and his philosophy of the mind have become highly popular topics in both traditional media and online discourse among Chinese communities. Some hail Wang as a near-perfect figure of the past 500 years—a man of extraordinary intellect and capability, who excelled in governance and military strategy. Admirers argue that Wang’s ideas inspired generations of intellectuals and ordinary people alike, profoundly influencing modern Chinese society. Prominent figures such as Zeng Guofan, Sun Yat-sen, Chiang Kai-shek, and even a young Mao Zedong were said to hold him in high regard. However, others take a more critical stance. They point out Wang’s tumultuous life and unfulfilled ambitions, suggesting that he fell short of achieving the traditional ideal of a scholar-official. Some go as far as dismissing his philosophy as pure idealism, irrelevant to modern realities.