Chapter 24 Chapter 223 Who is Lao Tzu?

There are different opinions about Lao Tzu's life experience. According to "Historical Records": Laozi, a native of Qurenli, Li Township, Chuku County, has a surname of Li, a given name of Er, and a style name of Dan. He is also the history of Zhou Shouzang. There are many inconsistencies in this statement. First, if Lao Tzu's surname is Li, why is he called Lao Tzu instead of Li Zi?Second, the surname Li has never appeared before. Where did Lao Tzu's surname Li come from?Third, a large number of royal families in the Zhou royal family are unemployed. How could such a position as the history of the Tibetan room be given to an outsider?Fourth, keeping the history of the collection room is an important position, especially for the royal family, its importance is self-evident.The storage room is not only the National Library, but also the National Museum of Cultural Relics, and the Central Document Museum.It is absolutely impossible for such an important position to be held by a person from Chu.

According to tradition, the position of keeping the history of the Tibetan room must come from a family, not the royal family, but also the Taishi family of the Zhou Dynasty. Therefore, the records in "Historical Records" are not sufficient. In fact, even Sima Qian doubted his own way of writing, so the "Historical Records" continued to record: Or it is said that Lao Laizi was also from Chu, and he wrote fifteen books, talking about the use of Taoism, which was said at the same time as Confucius. One hundred and twenty-nine years after the death of Confucius, the Shiji Zhou Taishi Zhan saw Qin Xiangong and said: "The Qin Dynasty and Zhou were combined, and they separated at the age of 500, and the overlord came out at the age of 70." Or Zhan is Laozi. , or it is not true, the world does not know whether it is true or not.

In this way, in "Historical Records", Sima Qian actually gave three candidate answers for Lao Tzu: Li Er, Lao Lai Zi, and Tai Shi Zhan.Which one is right, Sima Qian himself is not sure. Since Sima Qian couldn't be sure who Lao Tzu was, why did he even write down Lao Tzu's hometown?Interestingly, Lao Tzu's hometown makes sense.Of course, the so-called hometown should be his second hometown. Why do you say that Lao Tzu is the teacher of Prince Jin?Because Prince Jin's thinking was obviously influenced by Lao Tzu.The reason why Laozi is famous all over the world is because he is the teacher of Prince Jin, even though he is not an official teacher.

It is also because of such a master-in-law relationship that when Lao Tzu became the patriarch of Taoism, Prince Jin also became a figure of Taoism. Some people say that Laozi is famous all over the world, but it is not true. Before it was published, Laozi was already famous all over the world for his knowledge. Of course, I still rely on my name to pass on to future generations. Prince Jin and Lao Dan waited respectfully for Shu Xiang and Shi Kuang to arrive at the Prince's Mansion. They were also well-known for these two Jin people and admired them very much. The four met each other, and after exchanging pleasantries, they sat down as guests and hosts.

As the guest of honor and host, Shu Xiang and Prince Jin exchanged some polite words.Afterwards, they each introduced Lao Dan and Shi Kuang, and there was another mutual admiration. Basically, four of the most knowledgeable people in the world at the time were together. The conversation of the four is interesting because the status of the four is interesting. The one with the highest status is naturally Prince Jin. In theory, he is the second-ranked person in the world, and he is today's master.However, Lao Dan is the teacher of Prince Jin and the curator of the National Library, so from an academic point of view, his status is higher.However, Shu Xiang is the special envoy of Jin, the special envoy of the most powerful country in the world today, and the teacher of the monarch of the most powerful country, and he is also a guest. In terms of strength, Shu Xiang is stronger.However, Shi Kuang was specially invited by Uncle Xiang. Not to mention his profound knowledge, he is still a disabled person, so he needs everyone's care and admiration.

Fortunately, the four of them are very humble, and they all value the status of others and underestimate their own.Therefore, they are very relaxed and happy together. Several people talked for a while, and then talked and drank happily. After talking, the topic gradually turned to current affairs, and everyone talked about the international situation.However, with regard to the power struggle of the Jin State and the power struggle of the royal family, everyone kept secret, and they would stop at the point. "Mr. Lao Tzu, I have something I want to ask you for advice." Uncle Xiang was very respectful to Lao Dan.

"Teacher is polite, please tell me." Old Dan was also very modest. "Strong or weak, which one is stronger?" Shuxiang asked a question that sounded philosophical. In fact, he wanted to ask how to protect himself and his family in such a complicated environment as Jin. Lao Dan smiled, he knew what Shu Xiang meant, because not only Shu Xiang faced such a problem, but everyone, including himself, faced such a problem.Not only is the power struggle fierce in the state of Jin, but the royal family is no exception. "You see, when a person is eighty years old, the strongest teeth in the body have already fallen out, but the weak tongue is still there. 'The world is the softest, galloping is the world's most firm ().' The world is the weakest To be able to enter the most solid state in the world.'A person is weak in life, and strong in death ().' People are weak when they are alive, and hard when they die. All things are weak when they are alive, and weak when they die. It is withered. From these perspectives, weakness is a kind of living, and strong is a kind of death. Living, where it is damaged, it can be restored; dead, where it is damaged, it will be worse. So I know, weak Stronger than strong." Old Dan's words gave Shu Xiang a sense of enlightenment.

"Lao Tzu, you are so right, how did you understand this truth?" Uncle Xiang asked. "This is what my teacher often told me." Old Dan said.It turned out that he also had a teacher. "Then, can I have the honor to pay a visit to Teacher Chang?" "He's dead." "Oh." Shu Xiang was a little disappointed and embarrassed. Old Dan was fine, he still had a natural demeanor. Listening to their conversation, Shi Kuang felt that Lao Dan's words made sense, and when he heard that Shu Xiang didn't ask any more questions, he had a question to ask.

"I'm so knowledgeable, I want to ask you a question for our lord." "Master, thank you." Lao Dan has always admired Shi Kuang. "Excuse me, how should the monarch govern the country?" Shi Kuang asked the question, and he hoped to explain it to Duke Ping of Jin when he went back. "Quietness and inaction, the task is universal love. Love your people, appoint wise men, broaden your horizons, and investigate all aspects of the situation. Don't be limited by general customs, and don't be controlled by those who are left and right. Be far-sighted and extraordinary. Refined from vulgarity, often reflect on oneself, examine political achievements, and manage officials."

"Well, what a quiet and inaction, good, good. But, how can it be considered to be quiet and inaction?" Shi Kuang agrees, but is still a little confused. "Let me make an analogy. Governing a country is like steaming a fish. Don't overturn it frequently. That's why the ancients said: Governing a big country is like cooking a small fish. "Lao Tzu's words are very vivid, Shi Kuang closed his eyes and imagined the scene of cooking fish, and couldn't help nodding.Of course, his eyes were always closed. Lao Tzu answered two questions from Jin people one after another, and he couldn't help but feel a little proud.The two Jin people were very satisfied with Lao Tzu's answer, Shu Xiang looked at Lao Tzu with reverence, and Shi Kuang pricked up his ears, waiting for Lao Tzu to continue.

"Teacher, today's world is full of materialistic desires, constant conquests, big countries bullying small countries, and strong annexation of weak ones. Not to mention that the people are living in dire straits, even the officials and officials are precarious and in constant fear. In short, the world is coming to an end. Have you ever thought about how to save this world? How to make this world peaceful and harmonious?" At this time, Prince Jin asked a question.He knew that this was what Lao Tzu was best at and loved to say, but if he took the initiative to say it, it would be better if someone asked him a question.Now that the people of Jin State have asked questions, I just threw this question out to give the teacher an excuse to play. Lao Dan looked at Prince Jin, smiled knowingly, and said to himself, "This kid is really smart, no wonder everyone loves him." "This is a question I often think about all night. The world is already very dangerous. We must think of a way to save the world. Since the prince mentioned it, let me talk about it." Lao Dan took a sip of water and cleared his throat , on this topic, he has a lot to say. Shu Xiang's eyes widened, and Shi Kuang's ears became even more straight. "I have been the director of the National Library of China for many years, and I have read the books of various dynasties. I think there is only one way to save the world." Lao Tzu said, scanning the crowd with concern for the country and the people. Prince Jin smiled, Uncle Xiang nodded, and Shi Kuang's ears twitched. "What is the chief of all evils? Desire." Lao Tzu got to the point, starting with human nature. "With desire, people will fight for it. The stronger the desire, the more intense the means of competition. The world is so chaotic and brutal because people's desire is becoming more and more limitless." When I said this, everyone nodded, thinking it made sense. "However, desires are inherent and cannot be eliminated. So what should we do? We should suppress people's desires, not stimulate them." Lao Tzu continued. "How to suppress it?" Shi Kuang interjected, he was more interested in this topic. "Don't stimulate people's senses. For example, people have sexual desires. This cannot be changed. However, if there are beautiful women walking in front of you every day, your desire will increase; conversely, if you cannot see beautiful women, your desire will increase. The desire will be weakened. The more people know, the stronger the desire in all aspects. Seeing you wearing leather clothes, he will think about clothes; seeing you eating fish, he will drool. Therefore, restrain The best way to desire is not to let him see anything. According to my conclusion, it is 'often making the people ignorant and desireless' (). "Oh, isn't that foolish people?" Shi Kuang asked again, he was a little surprised by Lao Dan's words. "That's the thing, but don't say it so harshly." Lao Tzu laughed, but Shi Kuang couldn't see it. "Then, how can we make the common people ignorant and desireless?" Shu Xiang asked.On this point, he agreed with Lao Dan. "A small country with few people, so that there are hundreds of tools but not use them, so that the people will die and not move far away ()." Lao Dan quickly gave the answer, the country should not be large, and the people should not have many people. It is not allowed to be used, and the harvest of ordinary people is only enough to survive, and they are tied to the land all day long, not going anywhere or thinking about anything. "If people are like this, what is the difference between them and cows and horses?" Shi Kuang couldn't help asking again. "That's right. The world is not benevolent, and all things are regarded as dogs (), there is no difference between humans and cows and horses." Lao Dan replied with a smile again, but Shi Kuang still didn't see it. Shu Xiang supports what Lao Tzu said "often making the people ignorant and desireless".However, in the way of this small country with few people, Shu Xiang feels that it is difficult to realize. "This is a bit difficult." Uncle Xiang shook his head and said, "Even if a country does this, if the surrounding countries don't do this, wouldn't it be okay? Wouldn't there be temptations?" "So, there is another thing. Neighboring countries look at each other, and the sound of chickens and dogs is heard, and the people do not communicate with each other until old age and death ()." Lao Dan is quite thoughtful. What he means is that neighboring countries will never communicate with each other. .In this way, there will be no external temptations. The original source of closing the country to the outside world lies in Lao Dan. Shi Kuang didn't ask any more questions, and neither did Shu Xiang.Shi Kuang has been with the monarch all year round and knows a lot about state affairs; while Shu Xiang has been dealing with powerful officials at home and abroad all year round, and his understanding of the world is more real. "The idealist in the library." Both Shu Xiang and Shi Kuang commented on Lao Dan in their hearts.It's not that Uncle Xiang disagrees with Lao Dan's proposition, but Lao Dan's method is too naive, basically whimsical, and has absolutely no operability at all.But Shi Kuang didn't agree with Lao Dan's statement at all, and regarded Lao Dan's words about a small country with few people and no contact between old and dead, as idiots. This is the difference between the academic school and the practical school.The imagined world in the library is quite different from the real world, and the ideal world depicted in the library is often devoid of humanity and reality. Lao Dan suddenly found that Shu Xiang's eyes were no longer staring, and Shi Kuang's ears had already drooped, so he was inevitably disappointed.It seems that his brilliant ideas did not resonate. Lao Dan was a little embarrassed, so he ate a piece of meat to hide his disappointment. "Lao Tzu, according to what you said, no country is actually the best." Shi Kuang spoke suddenly.He has always been so forthright. Before Lao Dan could answer, Shi Kuang answered himself: "But, if there is no country, who will support us? So there must be a country." Lao Tzu was a little dazed, he really hadn't thought about this question.How should I answer?Before he could answer, Shi Kuang spoke again. "I'm afraid the method you said to suppress people's desires will not work. People have many desires, and the most basic desire is to survive. Your method actually strengthens people's desire to survive, thereby suppressing people's other desires. If people can only Survival, then once natural disasters come, people will not be able to survive, so the desire to survive will be even greater. At this time, yes, people will not rape or pursue food and drink, but if people want to survive, they will go to Is it better to rob and kill people? Since desire is innate and given by God, why do you want to suppress it?" Shi Kuang asked loudly, looking a little agitated. "Master misunderstood. What I mean is that everyone is voluntary, not forced." Old Dan defended. "How can you get everyone to voluntarily suppress their desires?" "As long as the monarch sets an example, it is enough, so the gentleman says: I am quiet and the people are self-righteous, I am quiet and the people are righteous, I have nothing to do, and the people are rich, I have no desires, and the people are simple (). As long as the monarch has no desires and inaction, The common people will follow." "The king has no desires and no actions? If the king has no desires, who will be the king? Isn't the purpose of being a king to satisfy one's own desires? If it is not for women, not for wealth, who will be the king?" "Master, you can't say that. The five colors make people blind, the five tones make people deaf, and the five tastes make people happy. The sage is the stomach and not the eyes, so go and pick this (). Too many temptations outside the body will make people Confused, so a good monarch only needs to have a full stomach, and don’t play with women. Just like you, master, didn’t you blind yourself to avoid too many temptations?” Lao Dan continued to defend. "Then I'm not the gentleman you said. That's right, I can avoid the temptations that my eyes can see when I'm blind, but I want to let my ears bear more temptations so that I can concentrate on music. Sleep when you're full, sleep Enough to eat, what is the difference between such a gentleman and a pig?" Shi Kuang said loudly. Lao Dan's face turned blue and white, and he didn't know what to say. Uncle Xiang saw that the two were talking stiffly, so he hurried to ease the atmosphere. "Ha, both of you have admirable opinions. But I'm happy today, so I won't talk about these boring topics." Uncle Xiang spoke and changed the subject. "That's right, what good idea does Taifu have?" Prince Jin hurriedly agreed. "Master Shi Kuang is the most accomplished person in music today, and the prince is said to be a top-notch sheng player. Since we are here today, it is a rare opportunity, why not play a piece together? Let's open our eyes?" Shu Xiang had a good idea. Prince Jin agreed on the spot, but Shi Kuang couldn't refuse.The musical instruments were ready-made, so Shi Kuang played the zither, and Prince Jin played the sheng.Later, Cao Cao wrote in "Duan Ge Xing": "I have guests, play the lute and the sheng." The two masters played together and naturally played a famous song. Uncle Xiang was fascinated by it, and even Lao Dan was so happy when he heard it, he forgot what he said "five tones make people deaf". On that day, we had a good time. Prince Jin especially admired Shi Kuang, and specially presented him with a car. As the saying goes: Heaven is jealous of talents, and geniuses do not live long. In the second year, Prince Jin died of illness at the age of sixteen. When the bad news came out, the world felt sorry for it.It is precisely because the world regrets it that there are the following legends. According to Han Liuxiang's "Biography of Immortals Prince Qiao", Prince Jin is good at playing the sheng, and he can make a sound like a phoenix from the sheng.He often roams along the banks of Yishui and Luoshui alone.A Taoist priest named Fuqiu Gong saw that Wang Zijin had the bones of immortality, so he led him to Songshan Mountain to practice.Once, Wang Zijin met an old friend named Bo Liang on the mountain, and he said to Bo Liang: "Please go back and tell my family members to wait for me at the foot of Goushi Mountain on July 7th. I'm saying goodbye to them." On that day, Zhou Lingwang's family was waiting at the foot of the mountain, and saw Wang Zijin ride a white crane, slowly landing on the top of Goushi Mountain, and arched his hands to bid farewell to his family at the foot of the mountain.The people in the family looked at his voice and smile, but they couldn't climb the steep mountain.Wang Zijin stayed on the top of the mountain for a few days, then rode on a white crane and disappeared into the white clouds and blue sky.Only two embroidered slippers fell from the clouds, which were regarded as a souvenir for his father when he left. This place was called "Fufudui" by later generations, and a temple was built on the pile, called "Zijin Temple".It is said that on sunny days, people often hear the sound of flute pipes coming out of the temple, giving people a wonderful reverie. Throughout the dynasties, there have been many poets chanting Prince Jin. Qu Yuan wrote in the poem "Yuanyou": "Xuanyuan is unreachable, I will entertain from Wang Qiao." I love Wang Ziqiao, I got the Tao Yiluo Bin".Du Fu also wrote: "Fan Li's boat is too small, Wang Qiao and cranes are not grouped together. This life follows all things, where is the dusty atmosphere." , more like the sound of neon clothes scattered." When Wu Zetian went to Songshan to enshrine Zen, he specially came to the top of Gou Mountain to pay homage to Zijin Temple, and set up the famous "Prince Shengxian Monument" here, and then built the Prince Shengxian Temple. Today, the Temple of Prince Shengxian is gone, only the lonely Stele of Prince Shengxian stands on the top of Gou Mountain. On the side of the stele of Prince Shengxian, there are several steles in memory of Prince Jin.One of them was erected by Qianlong, and the stele reads: "Gouling is verdant and verdant with Songyue, and it is rumored that Zijin will be promoted to immortal here. Cut off the three-point show of the imperial family, and look at the cotton in the Qingyi area." In history, there are many sayings that Prince Jin was abolished as a commoner because of his remonstrance, but this theory does not appear in official history and is unreasonable. Prince Jin died early, leaving behind a posthumous son Wang Sun Zongjing.Prince Jin's younger brother, Wang Zigui, was established as the prince, who became King Jing of Zhou later. After Wang Sun Zongjing grew up, he became the Situ of the Zhou Dynasty.Later, Wang Sun Zongjing resigned from office and went away to Taiyuan in the state of Jin. People in Taiyuan called them "Wang's family". Since then, the descendants of Prince Jin have taken Wang as their surname. The Wang family after Wang Sun Zongjing began to multiply in Taiyuan, and his descendants produced countless heroes. When Qin Shihuang unified China, general Wang Jian and his son Wang Ben contributed the most, and Wang Jian was the descendant of Prince Jin. Later, Wang Ben's son, Wang Li, became the general of the Qin Dynasty and was defeated by Xiang Yu and committed suicide.Wang Li's eldest son, Wang Yuantu, lives in Langya, Shandong, and is the ancestor of the Langya Wang family.Wang Li's second son, Wang Wei, returned to Taiyuan, but soon went to Yangzhou.Later, Wang Ba, the ninth grandson of Wang Wei, returned to his hometown, settled in Taiyuan, and became the Wang family of Taiyuan. In Chinese history, the Taiyuan King and the Langya King were both famous families, and there were many talented people.Wang Yun of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Wang Dao and Wang Xizhi of the Jin Dynasty, Wang Wei, Wang Changling, and Wang Zhihuan of the Tang Dynasty, Wang Dan and Wang Anshi of the Song Dynasty, Wang Yangming and Wang Fuzhi of the Ming Dynasty, etc., are all descendants of these two royal families. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, only the Wang family was a famous family in both the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The Wang surname was later divided into twenty-one prefectures, that is, twenty-one prefectures. Not all of these twenty-one prefectures were descendants of Prince Jin, but Taiyuan and Langya were the head of the Wang family. Basically, nine out of ten people with the surname Wang in Chinese history are or claim to be from Taiyuan King and Langya King.Today, most of the surnames of kings in the south come from the kings of Taiyuan and Langya. According to Hiroshi Kurita's "Clan Research", in Japan, "the six clans of Yamada, Miyashi Yamada, Hirono, and Miyake are all descendants of the Wang clan."