pinnacle of power

After listening to Mr. Tang's words, Liu Qingyu did not answer immediately, but was silent for a while, and then slowly said: "Mr. Tang, your question is rather sharp, and the logic behind it is more complicated. How about this, let me explain first. My understanding of Chinese culture, and then I will talk about the significance of Confucianism in the present and the present.

In my opinion, the so-called Guoxue in everyone's mouth should be the general term for the academic culture of China or the Chinese dynasties.Historically speaking, Chinese studies are not limited to Confucianism. In the pre-Qin period, a hundred schools of thought contended, and Confucianism was just a school of thought alongside Taoism, Mohism, and Law.According to the classification method of the "Siku Quanshu" of the Qing Dynasty, Chinese studies can be divided into four categories: classics, history, sons, and collections.

Guoxue not only represents our traditional Chinese culture that has been passed down for thousands of years, but also includes our Chinese people's most simple views on nature, family, life, and public welfare. The real, living, and ongoing Zhongzheng civilization and harmonious culture are the core values ​​and pursuits of the Chinese nation. They are a high-level summary of Chinese people's way of thinking, behavior, lifestyle, and production for tens of millions of years. The blood, spirit and soul of the children are the sky and the earth of Chinese belief. "

Hearing Liu Qingyu's understanding of Chinese culture, Elder Tang's face softened a little, and his gaze towards Liu Qingyu was no longer as cold as before.

For Tang Lao, a master of Chinese studies in his 80s, he is well-informed and experienced. He knows that many people are in awe of his status as a master, and even try their best to make friends with him, and keep saying that they can ask him for Chinese studies. Consult Confucianism.In fact, Mr. Tang saw very clearly that many so-called students were actually aiming to meet and make friends with some high-level provincial leaders through him.Tang Lao dismissed such people.

Originally, when he judged Liu Qingyu's identity on the spot, he wanted to walk away, but based on his understanding of Qin Shuai, he knew that this guy's vision was very sharp, and ordinary people would not be put in his eyes He didn't leave because of Qin Shuai's face, but he asked Liu Qingyu a series of sharp questions as soon as he came up.

Now, Liu Qingyu has expressed his understanding of Chinese studies, and Elder Tang still agrees. Although Liu Qingyu's understanding is not very deep, it is quite satisfactory.

Elder Tang said, "Okay, can you tell me about your understanding of Confucianism?"

Liu Qingyu nodded and said: "I think Confucianism is a guiding theory of life values ​​that has undergone severe historical tests. It is a pity that, with the influence of various Western trends of thought in recent years, especially with the market With the vigorous development of the economy, people are more and more advocating the supremacy of money. Some people even think that Confucianism and other national studies are decadent theories full of feudal thoughts, but I do not agree with this view.

I think, first of all, the realm of Confucianism is lofty, and the core ideas of Confucianism, such as benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, faith, forgiveness, loyalty, filial piety, and fraternity, still have very important guiding significance for us even in modern times. The world's increasingly impetuous social thinking and people's confused values ​​are the best medicine.

Confucianism is lofty in thought and simple in practice.For example, the opening sentence of "The Analects of Confucius" says, "Learning should be learned from time to time". It is very simple and it is a universal truth.

In particular, the eight items of Confucianism are more specific. From investigating things, extending knowledge, sincerity, rectifying one's heart to self-cultivation, regulating the family, governing the country, and pacifying the world, the steps and methods of self-cultivation internally and external governance of the family and the country are set out step by step. .It can be said that Confucianism has truly realized the role of enlightening people with culture, and it is a classic of success learned by Chinese gentlemen. "

When Liu Qingyu said this, Elder Tang already had a little smile on his face, listening quietly.

Liu Qingyu naturally noticed the change in Tang Lao's expression, he didn't feel the slightest bit of complacency in his heart, on the contrary, he was very calm at the moment.

Because since he was a child, he has memorized all kinds of Chinese classics including pre-Qin scholars and hundreds of schools, especially his father Liu Fei often explained to him some ways of being an official and governing through his own practice. Many ideas respected in practical work are all drawn from Confucianism and their respective classics of Chinese studies.

Therefore, Liu Qingyu has a deep understanding of various national studies and thoughts, and naturally has a deeper understanding of Confucianism.In addition, Liu Qingyu received the most advanced knowledge at Tsinghua University, mastered the actual situation of various countries in the world, and has a deeper understanding of the rule of law. Therefore, Liu Qingyu is almost always able to do things with ease, and often sees problems. Being able to see the essence through the appearance is inseparable from his rich knowledge.

"Then what benefits do you think Confucianism has for the country?" Elder Tang asked.

Liu Qingyu said: "From a social perspective, Confucianism is a thought that advocates being worldly, promising, and actively participating in society. He said that Confucianism has always been cultivating outstanding talents for the country since its inception. It also instilled in outstanding talents "always take the world as their own responsibility" and "if you live in a high temple, you should worry about your people; if you live far away, you should worry about your ruler." leading idea.

Confucian scholarship is to strive for self-improvement and serve the society; Confucianism is to promote oneself and others, and to cultivate oneself to achieve others; Confucianism is to do things for the country, the people, and the world.From this level, I admire Confucianism.

Looking at the historical stage, Confucianism is a kind of ideological theory suitable for governing the world, achieving prosperity, stabilizing society, and transforming into the world.

In fact, when we look back at the development of our Chinese history, we will be very shocked to find that whenever a dynasty enters a stable period or a prosperous period, the country will definitely re-emphasize the rule of Confucianism and culture. According to the laws of historical development that have been tested by practice, even the central regimes established by ethnic minorities, such as the Yuan Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty, after a period of cultural conflicts and ideological collisions, finally had to return to the Confucian strategy of governing the country.

Of course, this does not mean that our modern social governance must completely follow Confucianism. The rule of law is an essential requirement and an important guarantee for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, and it is an inevitable requirement for realizing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capabilities.If we want to achieve economic development, political clarity, cultural prosperity, social justice, and sound ecology, we must give full play to the leading and normative role of the rule of law. "

Speaking of this, Liu Qingyu went on to say: "I emphasize the role of Confucianism mainly in the hope that Confucianism can play an important role in guiding people's value orientation and social behavior. Because Confucianism still has a great role in this aspect .

For example, Confucian culture advocates the demeanor of a gentleman at the individual level, general ethics at the social level, benevolent government, love for the people, and virtue in government at the national level, and advocates that the world is one family and the benevolent are invincible at the international level. It is an aggressive, stable The culture of order, order, and neutrality is especially suitable for the steady rise of individuals, the steady development of society, the stability and harmony of the country, and the harmony of all nations in the world.

The socialist core values ​​we are advocating now not only inherit the wisdom foundation of Confucianism, but also incorporate the needs of the socialist era. It is a value orientation that embraces the past, inherits the past and ushers in the future. In today's a creative transformation, innovative development. 'We must be good at organically unifying and closely integrating the promotion of excellent traditional culture and the development of realistic culture, and develop while inheriting and inherit while developing'. "

When Liu Qingyu said this, Elder Tang had already begun to nod in satisfaction, looking at Liu Qingyu full of appreciation.

This young man is not bad, he is not very old, but he has a lot of knowledge, and he is a good seedling.

While listening, Mr. Tang's already calm heart finally began to have ripples.His old man wants to take on apprentices.

Thinking about it now, the last time I took an apprentice was 20 years ago, and that apprentice has now grown into a senior official after more than 20 years of ups and downs in the officialdom.At that time, the young land was diligent and studious, he learned from the blue, learned from one example, and learned by analogy. When the apprentice left the teacher, the old man felt that his knowledge was emptied all at once.

From then on, Mr. Tang regarded himself as a primary school student and started a new round of study and intensive research.Elder Tang believed that with his current background in Chinese studies, there would probably be no more than a slap in the face of anyone who could surpass him.

With a rich reserve of knowledge, Elder Tang's heart naturally began to itch, and he wanted to take in another apprentice. Although there were many people who came to his old man's house and wanted to be apprentices, Elder Tang didn't like any of them.Until that time when I met Qin Shuai by chance, the old man admired Qin Shuai's elegant conversation and profound knowledge, but because Qin Shuai learned a lot, Chinese knowledge only accounted for less than one-third of Qin Shuai's knowledge. arrive.And at that time, Qin Shuai put all his energy into Chinese medicine, so although Tang Lao admired Qin Shuai, he didn't accept him as a disciple, but just regarded him as a young friend who had forgotten his years.

Now, Elder Tang's mind is agitated.On the one hand, it is Liu Qingyu's deep understanding of Chinese culture and Confucianism, and on the other hand, it is because Liu Qingyu is an official, and officials are the best carrier for implementing Confucianism.

However, the master's expression was very calm, he just looked at Liu Qingyu silently.

After Liu Qingyu finished speaking, he looked at the master with a smile on his face and said, "Mr. Tang, this is my relatively rough understanding of Confucianism. Please enlighten me."

Elder Tang smiled warmly on his face: "Well, not bad, it's not easy for such a young man to understand Confucianism so thoroughly, but your understanding is only superficial. In fact, Confucianism includes Guoxue. What you understand is only the tip of the iceberg, and it’s just some superficial things. If you can really master Chinese culture, especially Confucianism, it will be of great help to you in the future as an official and in administration. Liu Qingyu, I plan to Accepting you as a closed disciple, how about it, are you interested in learning from me systematically?"

Liu Qingyu was taken aback at that moment.He didn't expect that this old man Tang intended to accept him as an apprentice, and he was not mentally prepared for this.

Seeing Liu Qingyu in a daze, Elder Tang was also a little surprised. You know, people who want to worship him as disciples are like crucian carp in the river. For more than 20 years, no one has been able to do so. Now that he has taken the initiative to accept disciples, some people have not shown The excited look made Elder Tang very depressed.