Li Ding, a renowned disciple of Jingming Taoism but otherwise understudied, was active in the Wanli period of the Ming dynasty. At this time the Literary Classicism Movement and Wang Yangming Learning were declining, while the Eight-legged Essay Society was getting more popular. Much closer to literature than to the philosophical Yangming school, Li Ding was inclined to regard ancient essays and the newer eight-legged essays rather than Neo-Confucianism as the appropriate way to engage the Confucian canon. Li Ding's activities, however, were not limited to literary production, as he had also participated in military campaigns, as well as being involved in the dredging of the Yellow River. These varied experiences were linked by him to Confucianism, which he regarded as the foundation of statecraft. Li Ding’s case allows us to see the changes and interaction of several trends in Ming Dynasty China.