Chapter 5 Section 4: The influence of good teachers and helpful friends

In ancient China, there was a saying that teachers and friends were valued very early on, and it was believed that the influence of teachers and friends had a great relationship with a person's success.Regarding the role of a teacher, Han Yu said in the article "Teacher's Talk": "Teachers, so preach, teach, and solve doubts." Han Yu's "Tao" originally meant Taoism, but it can also be interpreted as morality. That is, the teacher conducts ideological and moral education to the students. "Ye" refers to academics, and teaching karma means imparting knowledge. "Confusion" means doubts, and dispelling doubts is to help students solve difficult problems.Han Yu's words, in modern language, mean: A teacher is a person who educates students on ideology and morality, teaches students knowledge, and helps students solve difficult problems.From this point of view, the role of a teacher is very important, and it is really indispensable for a person's success.However, the ancients also believed that students should not simply imitate their teachers, passively accept education or follow blindly, but educate students to think independently under the guidance of the teacher and to jump out of the teacher's stereotype. "Inferences from one example to other cases" and "blue comes from blue and is better than blue" all emphasize that students should think independently under the guidance of the teacher and make up their minds to surpass the teacher in the future. "Book of Rites·Xueji" said: "A good scholar, the teacher is lazy and gets twice the effort, and then he is mediocre; a bad scholar, the teacher is diligent and half the effort, and then he complains." It means that people who are good at learning, the teacher is very It saves effort, but he gets a lot of gains, and he can still have his own experience; for those who are not good at learning, although the teacher works hard to teach, his gains are very small, and he often complains that the teacher did not explain clearly.It can be seen from this that it is very important for a person's success to have a good teacher and be good at learning from a good teacher.

Regarding the role of friends, "Book of Rites·Xueji" said: "Study alone without friends, you will be lonely and ignorant." Ignorant and know very little.As for how to make friends and how the relationship between friends should be, it is also discussed in "Book of Rites·Qu Li" and "Book of Rites·Confucianism". It is a relationship of like-mindedness, being happy together without hating each other.I haven't seen each other for a long time after parting, and I will never believe the rumors that sow discord.Because the starting point of making friends is like-mindedness, so when you agree, you can make progress together. In case of disagreement, you should break up politely.To make friends according to the principles of the ancients, of course the ones you make are good friends, which is of course crucial to a person's success.

There are many examples of young people in ancient China who became talented after being taught by good teachers.For example, Confucius had three thousand disciples, including 72 sages.These sages are of course exceptional talents. Among the 72 sages, some are almost the same age as Confucius. Of course, they cannot be regarded as young talents, but there are many young people who have become talents.Yan Hui, known for his virtue, was only about 30 years old when he died.Zi Gong, known for his political affairs, was one year younger than Yan Hui.Ziyou, famous for his literature, is 14 years younger than Zigong.Confucius was only 27 years old when he died.Zixia is one year older than Ziyou.Zi Zhang is three years younger than Zi You.Zeng is one year younger than Ziyou.Zilu, Zixun, and Zixi are all five years younger than Ziyou.Zishi, the Gongsun Longzi who was later famous for his "Speaking of Jianbai", was 53 years younger than his teacher Confucius, and he was only 19 years old when Confucius died.Their success is closely related to the teaching of Confucius, a good teacher.

The famous calligrapher Zhong Yao [youyou] of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period wrote "He Jie Biao" in block letters, which was praised as "the ancestor of the official script with all the laws and regulations", which means that it is well-written and is a Chinese The earliest successful regular script in history is a model for future generations to copy and learn.Zhong Yao's achievements are really due to his apprenticeship with calligraphers Cao Xi, Cai Yong and Liu Desheng in the Eastern Han Dynasty.In particular, Liu Desheng's handwriting was praised as "rich, beautiful, graceful and graceful".He carefully guided Zhong Yao to learn calligraphy, and passed on all his experience in calligraphy learning for many years to Zhong Yao, which made Zhong Yao a famous calligrapher in his youth.When Zhong Yao summed up his successful experience later, he said that he had been studying books for 30 years, one was due to his hard work and hard work, and even before going to sleep, he kept making gestures on the quilt, piercing the quilt; On the other hand, he believes that his basic skills were taught by his teacher Liu Desheng, and he said that he will never forget his teacher's instructions.

Wang Xizhi, a famous calligrapher in the Jin Dynasty, achieved much more than Zhong Yao, and was honored as the "Sage of Calligraphy".He liked to write since he was seven years old, and he really made progress in calligraphy after receiving the careful guidance of his teacher, Mrs. Wei.It is said that Mrs. Wei once explained to Wang Xizhi her own "Brush Array Tu" in detail.Since then, Wang Xizhi has made great progress in brushwork, making him a famous calligrapher in his youth. As an excellent teacher who is a model for others, Lu Zuqian of the Southern Song Dynasty is well-deserved.Lu Zuqian himself was born in a scholarly family, has a family background, inherited the essence of the traditional culture of the Central Plains, and because of his humility and eagerness to learn, he studied under Lin Zhiqi, Wang Yingchen, Hu Xian and other famous scholars, and made friends with outstanding young people at that time. Zhu Xi, Zhang Shi [shi Shi] and others, learned from each other, and finally formed his own profound knowledge, which is called "Lu Xue".In his later years, Lu Zuqian, his younger brother Zu Jian, and his younger brother Zu Tai founded a Lize Academy in Jinhua, gathering students to give lectures and cultivating talents.Lu Zuqian turned Lize Academy into an open academy, without flaunting it as a door.Students are free to come and go, and those who are willing to study here are welcome; those who want to leave after studying for a while will not be forced to stay, and they will not be expelled from the sect, and teachers and students will turn against each other.If you want to come back after studying elsewhere for a while, you are still welcome without discrimination.Of course, students from other places are also welcome to study in Lize College.When Lu Zuqian gave lectures to students, he often reminded students not to blindly follow the teacher's preaching, but to think independently and jump out of the teacher's stereotype.He said: "Today's learning, from the beginning to the end, mostly follow what you are familiar with, without going out of the rut. Only outside the rut, and then have merit." It means: students can't jump out of the teacher's rut, and they can't achieve their own. Knowledge, only by jumping out of the teacher's trap, can one achieve one's own knowledge.It is precisely because Lu Zuqian openly encourages students to jump out of the teacher's stereotype, so most of the students trained by Lize Academy are good at independent thinking and have their own independent opinions. Many of them have become talents in their youth, and many of them have grown up to follow A famous scholar like Lu Zuqian.

Students respect teachers and teachers love students. This is a normal teacher-student relationship.Only in this way can teaching and learning benefit each other, so that culture and learning can continue to develop.The relationship between Zhu Xi, an educator in the Southern Song Dynasty, and his student Huang Gan (gangan) can be said to be a model in this regard.Huang Gan went to Zhu Xi to learn from Liu Qingzhi's introduction.At that time, Zhu Xi was giving lectures in Mount Wuyi.Huang Gan braved the severe winter wind and snow to rush to Mount Wuyi. It happened that Zhu Xi was out on business, so he found an inn near Zhu Xi's apartment and stayed in an inn near Zhu Xi's residence. He lay down in his clothes every day, waiting for Zhu Xi.After two months, Zhu Xi came back from outside.Huang Qian hurriedly went to pay homage to his teacher, and he has been studying under Zhu Xi's door ever since.Zhu Xi attached great importance to Huang Gan, and believed that this student not only could understand the teacher's teaching well, but also was good at independent thinking and further develop the book knowledge.In order to broaden Huang Gan's horizons, Zhu Xi also asked him to consult with Lu Zuqian, and also asked him to read books written by Zhang Shi, and compare the academic views of Zhu, Lu and Zhang, who stood at the same time at that time.When Zhang Shi passed away, Zhu Xiyu said to Huang Qian earnestly: "There are fewer and fewer people in our generation, and the responsibility of developing culture and learning has fallen on your generation's shoulders." For his own academics, he also married his beloved daughter to this honest and reliable student as his wife.After Zhu Xi built the Zhulin Jingshe, whenever he went out on business, he asked Huang Qian to come to the Jingshe to help him with his lessons.When he compiled the "Book of Rites", he handed over the second volumes of "Funeral Rites" and "Sacrifice Rites" to Huang Qian for editing.After Huang Qian wrote the first draft, Zhu Xi was very satisfied after reading it, thinking that it was completely consistent with the outline and style of writing he had drawn up at the beginning.When Zhu Xi was seriously ill in his later years, Huang Gan was not by his side.He wrote to Huang Qian and said: "I am not long in the world. I believe that you can inherit my studies. I have nothing to worry about." And he has been engaged in teaching and writing in order to carry forward the teacher's academics all his life.

The importance of a teacher to a person's success sometimes exceeds the scope of "preaching, teaching, and dispelling confusion". Some teachers also selflessly help students in financial and other aspects. For example, they do not charge students' tuition fees and do their best for students Obligation, so that children who could not go to school can get the opportunity to learn and finally become talents.During the Three Kingdoms period, Bing [Bing Bing] Yuan lost his father at the age of 11. His family was very poor and could not go to school.There is a private school next door to his house. When Bing Yuan saw children of his own age happily going to school every day, he couldn't help feeling sad, and stood at the door of the private school and burst into tears.The teacher in the Shushu came out and asked him why he was crying. Bing Yuan replied, I envy those students who can study in the Shushu, so I couldn't help crying.The teacher said, you can come if you want to study.Bing Yuan said, I have no money to pay tuition.The teacher said, as long as you have ambition and study hard, I don't need to charge your tuition fees, and I will give you books, paper, ink, pens and inkstones.Bing Yuan was very happy when he heard this, and quickly knelt down to kowtow to the teacher to thank him, and he has been studying in the school since then.He finished reading the "Book of Filial Piety" and other Confucian classics in one winter. He became an outstanding student in his childhood, and finally grew into a famous talent.

The teacher is very important to a person's success or not. No wonder students in ancient China respected their teachers.In ancient times, some people were closer to teachers than to their biological parents.When the teacher is sick, the students serve day and night with their clothes on.When the teacher passed away, the students voluntarily kept mourning for him for three years. Students from far away traveled thousands of miles to pay the teacher's funeral, or escorted the coffin of the teacher who lived in other places home for burial.Although the teacher-student relationship in ancient times may not be completely copied today, it is still worth referring to.

There are many examples of young people in ancient China who became talented due to mutual learning and encouragement among friends.Chen Zhong and Lei Yi from Yuzhang County (now in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province) in the Eastern Han Dynasty were good friends. They studied together since they were young, learned from each other, and made progress in their studies.Zhang Yun, the prefect of Yuzhang, heard that Chen Chong's knowledge and character were very good, so he wanted to promote him as Xiaolian (a subject in the selection of officials in the Han Dynasty, most of those who were promoted as Xiaolian could be appointed as "Lang"). official position).After Chen Zhong knew about it, he said that Lei Yi's knowledge and character were better than his own, and insisted on giving Lei Yi the opportunity to be an official.For this reason, he and the prefect exchanged more than 10 letters.The prefect Zhang Yun disagreed with Chen Zhong's refusal, but agreed to make Lei Yi a Xiaolian in the second year.In this way, Chen Zhongcai agreed to accept the election.Later, both Chen Zhong and Lei Yi became officials of Shang Shulang, and became a famous pair of talents at that time.This story of friends learning from each other and pushing each other to become talents together is very touching. People made up two ballads to praise them, saying: "Gum and lacquer are not as strong as Lei and Chen." The bond is very strong, but not as strong as the friendship between Lei Yi and Chen Zhong.

The story of Zu Ti and Liu Kun in the Eastern Jin Dynasty who encouraged each other to become talented has always been cited as a good story in history and has been passed down through the ages.When the two of them were young, large tracts of land in northern China had been occupied by ethnic minorities such as the Huns.The two of them migrated to the south of the Yangtze River with the Sima royal family and worked as petty officials together.They have great ambitions and are not willing to spend their lives mediocrely.During the day, the two of them often study knowledge together.At night, we discuss national affairs together and express our personal patriotism.Tired of talking, the two shared a quilt and slept on the same bed.Zu Ti woke up Liu Kun when the rooster crowed in the middle of the night, and the two of them went to the courtyard to draw their swords and dance together to exercise their bodies and prepare to contribute to the country in the future.Later, Zu Ti was appointed to lead the army in the Northern Expedition.He was hit by a boat and vowed to recover the Central Plains.After Liu Kun heard the news that Zu Ti was employed, he wrote to his relatives and friends, saying: "I am ready to kill the enemy, and I am always afraid that Zu Ti will be one step ahead of me." Ti died in grief and anger because of being restrained by others in the Northern Expedition, and Liu Kun sacrificed for the country during the Northern Expedition, but the story of their friendship promoting their mutual success is quite educational for future generations.

Xiao Yingshi in the Tang Dynasty was able to write articles at the age of four, and was a student of Tai Tai at the age of 10. He has a vivid memory for reading.In his early years, he became friends with Yin Yin, Yan Zhenqing, Liu Fang, Lu Ju, Li Hua, Shao Zhen, and Zhao Hua. They encouraged each other and studied knowledge together. People at that time called them "Yin Yan Liu Lu, Li Xiao Shao Zhao". .Once, Xiao Yingshi traveled with Li Hua and Lu Ju to Longmen in Luoyang and read the inscriptions on the roadside together.Xiao Yingshi could recite it after reading it once, Li Hua could recite it after reading it twice, and Lu Ju could recite it after reading it three times.But Xiao Yingshi is not proud of being smarter than his friends, but doing his best to help each other and make progress together with his friends.Later, the eight of them all grew up to be well-known literati in the Tang Dynasty, and most of them have their works handed down. Among them, Yan Zhenqing is also proficient in calligraphy and is the founder of "Yan Tizi".Li Hua is a well-known prose writer, famous for his "Diao Gu Zhan Wen".Lu Ju is not only well-written, but also famous for being good at physics.Liu Fang is a historian and has written 40 articles in "Tang Li". In the early Qing Dynasty, the "Nine Sons of Yitang" headed by Wei Xi in Ningdu, Jiangxi Province, was also a typical example of friends learning from each other and making progress together.Wei Xi's father, Wei Zhaofeng, was unwilling to be an official of the Qing Dynasty after the fall of the Ming Dynasty. He lived in seclusion in Cuiwei Peak, more than 10 miles northwest of Ningdu County, Jiangxi Province. He named his place "Yitang" and devoted himself to studying "Book of Changes". .After Wei Zhaofeng's death, Wei Xi, his elder brother Wei Xiang, and his younger brother Wei Li invited Li Tengjiao, Qiu Weiping, Peng Ren, and Zeng Can from his hometown, as well as Peng Shiwang and Lin Shiyi from Nanchang. A total of nine people studied in Yitang together and worked hard. Long mu, self-supporting, known as "Nine Sons of Yitang".At that time, these nine people were all in their prime of youth, and whoever among them had learned something from reading would happily tell the other eight people; To answer, so everyone's progress is very fast.Later, the three Wei brothers all became well-known writers. Wei Xiang wrote 10 volumes of "Wei Bozi Anthology", Wei Xi wrote 22 volumes of "Wei Shuzi Anthology" and eight volumes of poems, and Wei Li wrote 16 volumes of poetry anthology.Li Tengjiao specializes in "Book of Changes" and is the author of "Zhouyi Remaining Words".Qiu Weiping is not only good at ancient Chinese, but also proficient in Western arithmetic. He also has a lot of research on "Book of Changes", and he is the author of "Book of Changes".Peng Ren has done a lot of research on "Zhou Li", and is the author of "Rituals and Laws" and "Caoting Anthology".Zeng Can is famous for his poetry writing, and he is the author of "Zhi'an Collection" and "Xiyan (yanyan) Caotang Collection".Peng Shiwang's learning is based on devotion, and he is the author of "Poems and Essays of Gongshitang".Lin Shiyi is good at calligraphy and poetry. He is the author of "Guanshi Poetry Collection".The nine people helped each other and became talents together, and they all became famous scholars in the early Qing Dynasty. Since mutual learning among friends is so important to a person's success, if this purpose cannot be achieved, and there is even a situation where friends affect each other's learning and progress, what should we do?There are also specific examples of this in ancient times, that is, to break up without regret, which is what is said in the "Book of Rites Confucianism" quoted above, the starting point of making friends is to share the same goals, and to make progress together when they agree. If there is a disagreement, break up politely.During the Three Kingdoms period, Guan Ning and Hua Xin were good friends. They studied under the same teacher in the early years, sat on the same mat to study, and hoeed and planted vegetables together after class.Once, when the two were hoeing, a piece of gold was suddenly dug out from the ground. Guan Ning thought it was not his own, so he was unmoved, and continued to hoe the ground with his head down as if he hadn't seen it.Seeing Cai, Hua Xin was moved, so he picked up the gold, weighed it, looked at it greedily, and wanted to put it in his arms, but because Guan Ning gave him an unhappy look, he blushed, and took the gold he picked up. The gold was thrown aside.Another time, the two of them were sitting on a mat reading, when they suddenly heard the noise of gongs beating to clear the way from outside the door.Guan Ning'an sat as before, concentrating on his study, unmoved.Hua Xin hurried to watch the excitement.It turned out that there was a high-ranking official on tour, shouting and embracing, and it was very lively.Hua Xin's heart was moved when he saw it. He returned to the mat, no matter what other people liked to hear or not, he talked about the prestige of a high-ranking official on tour with great relish, and said that he would definitely be a high-ranking official after finishing his studies. Show off your prestige.Guan Ning was very annoyed by Hua Xin's behavior. He thought that sitting and studying with Hua Xin as friends could no longer achieve the effect of mutual encouragement and mutual progress, so he took out a knife and cut the seat in two, and said to Hua Xin: He said: "We two have different aspirations. From now on, we will sit separately, read our own books, and go our separate ways!" Later, Hua Xin became a high-ranking official, and Guan Ning did not become an official but lectured and wrote books and became a scholar. .As far as personal interests are concerned, Hua Xin has achieved his goal, but in terms of his contribution to society, Guan Ning has received much more praise than Hua Xin, so the story of "Guan Ning's resignation" has been going on ever since. Recited as a model for handling friendships, it is generally believed that Guan Ning did the right thing.