Chapter 32 Section 6 is beneficial to open the book

The founding emperors of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin (Yin Yin) and Zhao Kuangyi, known as Taizu and Taizong in history, were both book-loving emperors and paid attention to royal family education. According to legend, the Zhao brothers studied very hard.When Zhao Kuangyin led troops to fight, he often loaded thousands of volumes of books in his car so that he could study at any time during the march.Therefore, he is brave and resourceful, wise and decisive, and enjoys a high prestige among the soldiers.Later, under the planning of a group of civil servants and generals, he launched the Chenqiao Mutiny and became the emperor of the Song Dynasty.After he ascended the throne, he issued a special edict, requiring officials and people from all over the country to donate books to the history museum in the imperial palace. Those who donate books will be assessed by the academy, and those who pass the examination can be rewarded with official positions.When the Southern Tang Dynasty was destroyed, he sent people to Jiangling in a hurry, confiscated all the books of Li Yu (yuyu), the empress of the Southern Tang Dynasty, and immediately sent them to the capital for him to enjoy and read.It is said that after he became emperor, he insisted on reading books and practicing calligraphy every day.One day, when a storm came, he was concentrating on writing at his desk.Suddenly, there was a thunder sound beside the table, and the desk was hit, but he still sat still, and said without fear: "Although my case is hit, my hands will never change it." It was a good story for a while.

Zhao Kuangyi is also good at reading like his brother.His interest in reading comes from his tutoring.His grandfather used to lead troops, and every time he conquered a county or county, he didn't take gold, silver and property. He just searched for various ancient books and gave them to Zhao Kuangyi to read.Due to the strict requirements of his grandfather, Zhao Kuangyi had a high literary and historical accomplishment when he was young, with rich knowledge and beautiful writing. Later, Zhao Kuangyin abdicated the throne to his younger brother Zhao Kuangyi when he was dying.When Zhao Kuangyi became emperor, he devoted himself to literature and history and rewarded the royal descendants to study.During the period of Taiping Xingguo, he ordered Li Rui and others to compile nearly 500 kinds of novels, notes, and barnyard history from the Han Dynasty to the early Song Dynasty, and compiled them into 1,000 volumes, called "Taiping Yulan".The so-called "Yu Lan" means the emperor's reading.They were also asked to compile 500 volumes of various unofficial histories, called "Taiping Guangji", and selected articles from previous generations to compile 1,000 volumes, called "The Essence of Wenyuan".

These books are Zhao Kuangyi's favorite reading.He must read three volumes of "Taiping Yulan" every day.Books in ancient times were pasted into long scrolls and rolled up one by one for preservation.Three volumes have a certain weight.Occasionally, he missed three volumes a day because he was too busy with work, and he must make up later.A year later, he carefully read through the voluminous "Taiping Yulan".At that time, some ministers, seeing that he was up late at night and studying hard, advised him not to work too hard, so as not to hurt his health.He said: "Opening a book is beneficial, I don't know what hard work is in reading." This story is recorded in the book "Mian Shui Yan Zi Lu" written by Lian Bizhi in Song Dynasty.

Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin and Taizong Zhao Kuangyi not only paid attention to the study of literature and history and the study of scriptures, but also set an example in family education, advocating the formation of a good reading atmosphere in the whole country from the ministers to the common people, and paying attention to family education and school education.In the third year of Jianlong (962 A.D.), Zhao Kuangyin ordered the family of military officials to teach their children to read in order to know the principles of governing the country.The prime minister, Zhao Pu, was familiar with reading and researching at ordinary times. He was able to use it freely, be effective in dealing with affairs, and apply what he had learned. He assisted Song Taizu in planning political and military plans, because he had the reputation of "ruling the world with half the department".In the third year of Qiande (965 A.D.), Song Taizu reiterated that "a scholar must be a good friend".As a result, there are more and more scholars in the world, and the atmosphere of reading has enveloped the government and the public.

Due to Song Taizu and Song Taizong's advocacy of the reading atmosphere, there was a Song Dynasty where culture and education flourished, academics prospered, and famous scholars emerged in large numbers.