Lin Dong-cheng is the follower of Wang Gen. Meanwhile, he made friends with Wang Ji, another your brilliant disciple of Wang Yang-ming. Under the influence of Xinzhai and Longxi, Lin Dong-cheng had formed a style mind theory thoughts of his own. The main contents comprises these aspects: Innate knowledge is true; Mind is reason, own is identical to others; politics is related to learning, efforts are in the life; learning is baced on mind; learn from masters and friends, etc. His thoughts wasn’t confined to Wang Gen and Wang Ji. Moreover, with the change of his position, Lin Dong-cheng Had departed from Taizhou School’s tradition of bringing Confucianism into common people’s life, become the Confucianist of gentry. Lin Dong-cheng’learning and behaviors demonstrated the sign of the Division of Taizhou School.
王艮弟子林东城,“师心斋而友龙溪”,深受阳明门下两大巨子心斋和龙溪的思想影响,而又形成了有着他自己个性特色的心学思想。其心学思想主要内容有:良知无不真;即心是理,人己一体;政学相即,工夫不离日用;自心自信,以心养学;亲师取友,学门第一事等。可见其思想未为心斋、龙溪所局限。在广泛交游、论学过程中,他的思想展现出愈益重视工夫的倾向性变化。并且,东城由佣工而仕进,随着身份地位的改变,成长为士绅之儒,逐渐背离了泰州学派平民儒学传统。尽管其享年不永,但其学行已显示出了泰州学派的分化迹象。