Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 113 0108 [True Dao and True Temperament]

In early spring, everything grows.

But it will not be sent again, and the chill is still there.

This old locust tree has lost all its leaves in winter, a few dead leaves are scattered on the ground, and the bark is mottled and cracked.

It will be another month or two before it will produce new shoots this spring.

More than a dozen teachers and students, surrounded by the two, stood quietly under the tree.

Min Zishun was the first to join the discussion, and asked, "Does it mean that you are too busy with small tricks and forget the big way when you delve into dead things like this?"

Zhu Ming immediately quoted "Book of Changes·Shuo Gua" to explain: "Purpose reason, exhaust one's nature, and even one's life."

Chen Yuan quoted Zhang Zai's words: "There should be a gradual change in the principle of poverty. There are many things to see and many reasons to be poor. From then on, we will make appointments to fully understand the nature of people and the nature of things. Everything has a reason. If you don't know the reason Dreamed all my life."

The former belongs to the words of sages, and the latter belongs to the teachings of Confucianism.

Can convince the public!

Bai Chongyan couldn't help asking: "Mr. Ercheng said that there is only one principle in the world. If all things have a principle, but the principles of all things are still different, isn't there not only one principle but all principles?"

Zhu Ming said: "Tao begets one, one begets two, two begets three, three begets all things."

Chen Yuan said: "Of course. The Dao is one, so it is one principle. Dividing yin and yang and transforming the five elements into all things, the one is consistent, but the concrete forms are different. The first is the principle, the third is the principle, and the ten thousand is also the principle."

In the early years of the Northern Song Dynasty, the trend of the integration of the three religions was evident.

A large number of Taoist thoughts were absorbed into Confucianism, which complemented the Confucian view of the universe.

As long as it does not conflict with the basic concepts of Confucianism, Lao Tzu's words are still very authoritative.

Zhu Ming also added: "What we should do in our generation is to find the oneness of all things. If we go directly to comprehend the oneness of the Dao, who else can comprehend it except a natural saint? You and I are ordinary people, and we must start from all places. If you lack the principles of one thing, you will be closer to the Dao. If you lack the principles of all things, you can get a glimpse of the Dao. This is the study of things to gain knowledge!"

Ling Guxu took out the pen and paper a long time ago, the ink had been sharpened during Chen Yuan's lecture, and now he lay down on the ground and quickly recorded.

Although Ling Guxu didn't say a word, he had an intuition that something big happened today.

He is going to be the recorder!
Min Zishun asked again: "Is it too utilitarian to seek benevolence and turn benevolence into usefulness? Is it a new learning?"

Zhu Ming didn't answer, he didn't know much about Wang Anshi's new learning.

Chen Yuan said: "It is certainly inappropriate for the new learning to place too much emphasis on utilitarianism, but as long as it distinguishes between profit and righteousness, it is not a big problem. The new learning has fallen into evil ways because it divides heaven and man."

Although Luoxue and Xinxue are hostile to each other, more than 99% of their understanding of the scriptures are the same.Moreover, all the great Confucians of Luoxue (Confucianism) praised the scriptures annotated by Wang Anshi.

The real difference lies in the fact that Luo Xue advocates that there is only one way, and that man and nature are in harmony.

However, Wang Anshi believes that the way of heaven and humanity are separate, and the way of humanity should conform to and learn from the way of heaven. The way of heaven is ruthless and does not contain any color of human values.This violates the basic concepts of Confucianism and is an excessive reference to Taoism.

Wang Anshi not only introduced Taoism, but also Buddhism and Legalism, and even various schools of thought.

He was criticized by his political opponents for imitating Shang Yang, and Wang Anshi directly wrote a poem, roughly meaning: Why can't Lao Tzu learn from Shang Yang?Shang Yang's law can implement administrative orders.

When Wang Anshi reformed the law, Luo Xue's criticism of the new learning was used by the old party, which led to more intense party disputes.

Er Cheng reflected on it afterwards and said that they should bear at least 20% of the responsibility for the world to be turned into this way.

In fact, Er Cheng also advocated reform and held an objective and critical attitude towards the new law.They once wrote to Sima Guang, advising him not to abolish the exemption law and other good policies, but Sima Guang, who was so red-eyed, didn't listen at all.

The academy teacher who came after him asked: "The Master said, a gentleman is not a weapon. "Xi Ci" also says that what is above the metaphysics is called the Tao, and what is below the metaphysics is called the tool. If you use the sun to seek the Tao, does it violate Confucius' "A gentleman is not a weapon?" What do you mean by 'device'?"

Zhu Ming said: "Tao tools are the same, but principles are different."

Chen Yuan said: "Utensils are suitable for their own purposes and cannot communicate with each other. Confucius' words are admonishing gentlemen not to be dead things. However, Taoism and utensils are not the same, and the principles are different. If the utensils do not exist, the Tao will fail." In? A gentleman is not a tool, it is not a tool, not a tool that cannot be exhausted."

Ling Guxu lay down on the ground and wrote down this conversation.

The dozen or so teachers and students present kept asking questions, and Zhu Ming and Chen Yuan answered them all.

Teaching and learning benefit each other, the more questions are asked, the more answers are given, and the new school of thought and theory becomes more perfect.

Zhu Ming opened Chen Yuan's mind, and he couldn't stop it.

While the teachers and students were impressed, they were also secretly shocked.Because of Ju Ming's young age, he has a deep understanding of Confucian classics, and sometimes he can even make up for Chen Yuan's omissions.

Talking until dark, Min Zishun bowed and bowed: "If you receive the teaching today, if you are enlightened, you will know the true meaning of the Dao. Please accept it next time!"

Li Hanzhang asked: "Mr. Motang, brother Chenggong, you two want to start a sect?"

Ju Ming smiled and said nothing.

Chen Yuan said: "The establishment of a sect does not dare to speak falsely, it is just to find another way and try to spy on the Dao."

This is a humble statement, and it is clear that I want to establish a sect!
Everyone was horrified, but also extremely excited. They were all witnesses, and they could even become participants.

The teacher of the academy was Chao Hongtao, who had passed the Juren examination six times, but had never been a Jinshi, so he could only teach in the academy.But he also has pursuits, so he bowed his head and bowed down: "I would like to follow Mr. Tai, and resign from the position of teaching, in order to obtain the true meaning of the Dao!"

"I am willing to listen to my teacher's teaching!" Li Hanzhang was the second to express his opinion. Anyway, he is the son of the state judge, and he can come and go at will in this Yangzhou Academy.

Bai Chongyan was a little hesitant. He was just the son of a landlord in the countryside, and he planned to study hard and take the imperial examination.

Ling Guxu got up from the ground, put the record in his arms, cupped his hands and said: "I would like to study with you."

Bai Chongyan gritted his teeth: "I would like to study with you sir!"

There were more than a dozen students and teachers, and six of them prostrated themselves one after another.

Chen Yuan smiled slightly, and said to Min Zishun: "I plan to stay in the academy for a while and write some articles. You can tell Master Min Shan, and he will give you money for board and lodging."

Min Zishun flew back, conveyed the original words, and persuaded: "Uncle, please reconcile with Mr. Chen as soon as possible, otherwise Yangzhou Academy and our Min family will be the laughing stock of the world from now on!"

"I disagree with him, so I should be laughed at by the world? It's too alarmist." Min Wenwei sneered.

Min Zishun anxiously said: "Uncle, Mr. Chen has achieved great enlightenment and wants to establish a sect here!"

Min Wenwei's smile faltered: "What qualifications does he have to start a sect?"

Chen Yuan is indeed not qualified. As Yang Shi's senior disciple, although he is knowledgeable, he lacks his own ideas and has been picking up Yang Shi's academic wisdom.

The knowledge of this school has to wait until Li Tong is born.

Yang Shi passed it on to Luo Congyan, Luo Congyan passed it on to Li Tong, and Li Tong passed it on to Zhu Xi with all his elders.

Min Zishun said: "The father of Zhu Chenggong was also a great Confucian in seclusion. His knowledge is confirmed by both. Mr. Chen suddenly realized something, so he has the heart to establish a sect."

Zhu Chenggong's father is also a great Confucian?

Min Wenwei actually believed it a little bit, because he heard people say that Lu Tixue had a very happy conversation with Zhu's father and son.

Although he didn't agree with Lu Tixue's thoughts, he knew that Lu Tixue was a learned man.If Zhu Ming's father can chat with him, he must also be knowledgeable, maybe he is really a hermit Confucian.

Min Wenwei paced back and forth, thinking over and over again, and said: "Arrange Mr. Chen and Na Zhu Chenggong, and let them live in the best dormitory. They will give them whatever they want, and there is no need to talk about money. Then use Baiguan as a pen, and invite the two Write a couplet for the academy. Regardless of whether you can start a school or not, I can afford a small amount of money. If it is done, it will leave a good name. If it doesn’t work, it will be as if nothing happened.”

In the ancestral hall of the Chen family, there was a pair of couplets: a double Confucianism, nine sons and ten disciplines.

This is a statement of glory. The Chen family has produced two Confucianists of Confucianism.Among them, the eighth ancestor gave birth to nine sons, and all ten fathers and sons were awarded Jinshi.

In the Northern Song Dynasty alone, there were nearly 20 Jinshi from the Chen family.

In the entire Hanzhong area, only 22 Jinshi were admitted in the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties combined.

If Chen Yuan is only famous as a Confucian, it doesn't matter if there is a little conflict.

But once Chen Yuan established a sect, with the help of his family's influence, he would definitely be able to quickly become a generation of Confucian sects.At that time, today's conflict will also spread, and the Min family and Yangzhou Academy will surely laugh for the world.

Min Wenwei thought about it again, and decided to talk to Chen Yuan in person.

……

But when Chen Yuan returned to the temporary dormitory, he immediately ordered his followers to grind ink and lay paper.

He closed his eyes and meditated, intending to write a theoretical article to build a framework for the newly established school.

This new school still belongs to the branch of Luoxue, and the basic idea is inherited from Luoxue.At the same time, a large number of Guan Xue (Zhang Zai) ideas should be introduced. This is not contradictory.

Sitting upright for a long time, Chen Yuan picked up a pen and wrote three words: Taoism.

By the time this article is finished, the new school will have a name - Luoxue branch Daoyong school.

After writing the title, Chen Yuan was about to write the text when there was a knock on the door.

"Please come in." Chen Yuan was very upset when his train of thought was interrupted.

Min Wenwei pushed the door open and entered with a smile on his face, "Don't take this old man's slip of the tongue today, Mr. Don't take it to heart. Mister is a great talent, please write a couplet for the academy."

Chen Yuan didn't have the heart to write couplets, he just wanted to get rid of this person as soon as possible, so that he could write his own creation article with peace of mind.

But Min Wenwei didn't know how to read words and expressions, so he kept pestering him to talk, which made Chen Yuan extremely annoyed.

On Zhu Ming's side, everyone surrounded him back to the dormitory, asking questions non-stop on the way.

Finally back in the dormitory, Bai Sheng, Shi Biao and Bai Chongyan's school boys are all there, and they can stay in the academy temporarily for several days.

"Brother Zhu, when will you go down the mountain?" Bai Sheng asked.

Zhu Ming said: "I'm afraid we won't be able to leave for a while. As long as Master Min is not stupid, he will definitely keep us, but we can continue to eat and live here for free."

Bai Sheng said: "That bird man is very old, but his speech is very ugly. I don't want to be angry here."

"Actually, he can speak nicely." Zhu Ming laughed.

Sure enough, the good words came soon.

Min Wenwei went to chat with Chen Yuan in person, while Min Zishun came to chat with Zhu Ming.

And also brought two janitors, one holding food, the other carrying money.Moreover, it is all silver money, which is easy to carry, not ordinary iron money.

Min Zishun smiled and clasped his fists: "Today's discussion lasted till dark, Brother Chenggong hasn't eaten yet, so he must be hungry."

Zhu Ming didn't know how to be polite: "My two attendants didn't eat either."

"It will be delivered later," Min Zishun said, "here is a hundred coins worth of money, brother Chenggong please write a couplet for the academy."

"Good to say."

It's a fool to have money and not make money. It's a hundred coins. This Min family is really rich.

Moreover, Zhu Ming has the intention of occupying the magpie's nest.He is going to lay down Yangzhou as a base in the future. Yangzhou Academy can cultivate talents for itself, so he can simply write an excellent couplet to make Yangzhou Academy more famous.

Zhu Ming, who still eats and lives here for free, has already regarded Yangzhou Academy as his own private property...he really has the spirit of ownership.

"I study ink for brother Chenggong." Min Zishun expressed positively.

Zhu Ming was really hungry, so he sat down and took a few mouthfuls of food, and when Min Zishun finished grinding the ink, he immediately picked up a pen and wrote a couplet.

Min Zishun spent money to write couplets, just to ease the relationship, and he didn't take the content of couplets to heart.

But when Zhu Ming finished writing, Min Zishun suddenly felt his eyes light up, and said excitedly: "The sound of the wind and rain, the sound of reading, the sound of reading is in my ears; family affairs, state affairs, world affairs, and everything is concerned. Good connections, good literary talents, and good ambitions!"

Min Zishun was completely convinced, and no longer had any doubts about Zhu Ming's talents.

For this couplet alone, one hundred guan is worth the money!
What Zhu Ming thought in his heart was, if a pair of couplets is one hundred, I can wholesale dozens of pairs, so wouldn’t there be development funds for Daming Village?
In the end, Zhu Ming still couldn't hold back, and asked, "Do you still want couplets?"

"Ah?" Min Zishun didn't understand.

Zhu Ming chuckled and said, "I'm short of money recently, so I can buy as many as I want. If you don't want it, you can introduce other people. If it doesn't work, you can get a discount."

"Ah?" Min Zishun understood, but he was also dumbfounded.

This doesn't seem like a scholar who can assist the Great Confucianism to establish a sect.

But Ju Ming's knowledge is there again, Min Zishun thought: This is not greedy for money, but a true temperament!
(End of this chapter)