 The Ming scholar most influential upon subsequent generations , however , was Wang Yangming ( 1472 – 1529 ) , whose teachings were attacked in his own time for their similarity to Chan Buddhism . Building upon Zhu Xi 's concept of the " extension of knowledge " ( 理學 or 格物致知 ) , gaining understanding through careful and rational investigation of things and events , Wang argued that universal concepts would appear in the minds of anyone . Therefore , he claimed that anyone – no matter their pedigree or education – could become as wise as Confucius and Mencius had been and that their writings were not sources of truth but merely guides that might have flaws when carefully examined . A peasant with a great deal of experience and intelligence would then be wiser than an official who had memorized the Classics but not experienced the real world . 
