Abstract: According to Huang Zongxi, Wei Zhuangqu’s doctrine of the ground of nature (tiangen) reflected a slight transformation from the NeoConfucianism of the Song Dynasty to that of the Ming Dynasty. However, this is not the true story. As a sincere follower of Cheng and Zhu’s doctrines, Wei only tried to reach a kind of monism based on the doctrine of cultivation characterized by stillness, and his doctrine of tiangen might reveal some opportunities for transformation of movement solely on the level of cultivation. Through a comparative study of tiangen and tianji, we can also find some similarities and distinctions between Wei Zhuangqu and the scholars of the Yangming school.