Most general studies of Neo-Confucianism focus on the leading thinkers of the Song (960-1279) andMing (1368-1644) dynasties, such as the Cheng brothers (Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi), Zhu Xi, andWang Yangming, with the dominant emphasis being their key philosophicalideas as expressed in their various writings. What readers seldom get is a glimpse of how scholarsstruggled with putting their ideas into practice, as there are few extended firsthand accounts of anyoneengaged in the daily pursuit of the Neo-Confucian goal of sagehood.