In order to highlight its differences with Kunko-gaku (exegetics) during the Kan and Tang dysnasties and Koshogaku (study of old documents) during the Qing dynasty, Yomei-gaku is sometimes called Somin Ri-gaku, which is a general term used to describe Confucian studies during the Song and Ming dysnasties, and among Ri-gaku, Yomei-gaku is further called Shin-gaku, Min-gaku, or Rikuo-gaku to distinguish it from Shushi-gaku (Zhu Xi school).
また漢唐の訓詁学や清の考証学との違いを鮮明にするときは、（宋(王朝)明）理学と呼び、同じ理学でも朱子学と区別する際には心学あるいは明学、陸王学ともいう。