The mind is the principle: Mr. Yangming attained enlightenment in Longchang, Guizhou, and established the core proposition that "the mind is the principle", from which the Yangming School of Mind system originated.

Unity of Knowledge and Action: "The unity of knowledge and action" is a key proposition in Yangming's philosophy of mind. Yangming proposed it in Longchang in 1508 and first elaborated the following year while lecturing at Guiyang Wenming Academy. The core of this proposition is "knowledge is the beginning of action, and action is the completion of knowledge." "The true and sincere knowledge is action, and the clear and perceptive action is knowledge."

Towards Conscience: "Towards Conscience" is the core and most mature proposition and practice in Yangming's philosophy of mind. "Conscience" is the essence of the mind, and "towards" is the practice.

Wang's Four Sentences: Before leaving for the expedition against Si and Tian, Yangming answered questions from Qian Dehong and Wang Ji regarding "Wang's Four Sentences." "The heart is neither good nor evil, but it has both good and evil intentions. Knowing good and evil is conscience, and doing good and eliminating evil is the study of things."

Being close to the people: "Being close to the people" is a key concept in Yangming's philosophy of mind. Yangming believed Zhu Xi should not have interpreted the opening chapter of the Great Learning, "In being close to the people," as "In being new to the people," and advocated restoring the original meaning of the ancient version of the Great Learning: "Being close to the people."

Benevolence, the unity of all things: Related to the concept of being close to the people, this is another key concept of Yangming's. This concept inherits Confucian principles and makes significant extensions.