What does "Knowledge that is true and sincere is action, and action that is clearly aware and careful is knowledge?" What does it mean?

This sentence comes from Wang Yangming's "Zhuan Xi Lu", which dialectically explains the theory of "the unity of knowledge and action". It means: A deep understanding and the ability to implement it well are the real actions. Only when you are aware and careful during the action can you think you have a profound understanding.

Whether you know something or a truth deeply can be seen from your behavior; and whether the behavior is correct and accurate also affects your understanding of things. The two are integrated, and this is also The biggest difference from Zhu Xi’s Neo-Confucianism.

Zhu Xi believes that when talking about order, knowledge comes first; when talking about importance, behavior is important. It sounds very reasonable, and there is no emphasis on "knowledge" and "action", but in fact, "knowledge comes first" is enough. It means leading with "knowledge" and deciding "action", so the scholars at that time could only talk but not do it. This was also a phenomenon that Yangming strongly criticized at that time.

Extended information:

< p>The Theory of the Unity of Knowledge and Action

Ancient Chinese philosophers believed that it is not only necessary to understand ("know"), but especially to practice ("action"). Only by unifying "knowledge" and "action" can we call it "knowledge" and "action". Get "good". Respecting conscience and integrating knowledge and action are the core of Yangming culture.

In the third year of Zhengde of Wuzong in the Ming Dynasty (1508), Wang Shouren, a master of mind science, lectured at Guiyang Civilization Academy and first proposed the theory of the unity of knowledge and action. The so-called "unity of knowledge and action" is not a general relationship between knowledge and practice. "Knowledge" mainly refers to people's moral consciousness and thoughts. "Xing" mainly refers to people's moral practice and practical actions. Therefore, the relationship between knowledge and action refers to the relationship between moral consciousness and moral practice, and also includes the relationship between some thoughts and practical actions. Wang Shouren’s idea of ??“unity of knowledge and action” includes the following two meanings.

1. In knowing, there is action, and in doing, there is knowledge. Wang Shouren believes that knowing and doing are one thing and cannot be divided into "two parts". "Knowledge and practice are two words, said in one effort." From the perspective of moral education, Wang Shouren strongly opposed the disconnect between knowledge and action and "knowing but not doing" in moral education, and prominently attributed all morality to the conscious actions of individuals, which is of positive significance.

Because from the perspective of moral education, moral awareness is inseparable from moral behavior, and moral behavior is inseparable from moral awareness. The two are mutually exclusive and inseparable. Knowledge must be manifested in action, otherwise it cannot be regarded as true knowledge. Moral knowledge and moral awareness must be manifested in moral behavior. If we do not act, it cannot be regarded as true knowledge. Wang Shouren believes that conscience can do everything, and conscious action is knowledge. This is undoubtedly profound.

2. Act based on knowledge, and knowledge determines action. Wang Shouren said: "Knowledge is the idea of ??action, action is the effort of knowing; knowledge is the beginning of action, and action is the completion of knowledge." It means that morality is the guiding ideology of human behavior, and acting in accordance with the requirements of morality is the process of achieving "conscience". Ideological activities generated under moral guidance are the beginning of behavior, and behavior that conforms to the requirements of moral norms is the completion of "conscience."

Baidu Encyclopedia-Unity of Knowledge and Action