Modeling Confucius: Crafting the “Hereditary House” of Wang Yangming

Wang Yangming’s (1472–1529) early hagiographical reception sought to reconcile his philosophical teachings with the expectations of a Confucian sage. Following his death, his disciples worked to position him within the official Confucian lineage amid political struggles, balancing historical facts with ideological construction. One such effort was Geng Dingxiang’s (1524–1596) Hereditary House of Earl Xinjian, Master Wang Wencheng 新建侯文成王先生世家, a quasi-Shiji 史記 biography that imitated the Shiji narrative. By modeling Wang’s biography after that of Confucius, Geng granted him comparable historical significance. This work not only defended Wang’s intellectual legacy but also integrated his earlier chronicles, recorded sayings, and essays into a cohesive narrative. In doing so, Geng leveraged Wang’s newly conferred official title to legitimize him further, elevating his status and solidifying his place within the orthodox tradition, ultimately shaping Wang’s posthumous image as a Confucian sage.