Chapter 10 A man of Chinese cultural tradition

Chinese culture has one point that is absolutely different from other societies of other nations in the world, that is, Chinese society has the first-class quality of scholars, while other societies do not have it.During the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, China was an aristocratic and feudal society, but there were scholars at that time.Just like the legend of the Xia Dynasty, Yi Yin of the Shang Dynasty started in the village of Banzhu, and ascended to the highest political position, the details of which are beyond test.There is no doubt that he is a supreme model for scholars of later generations.Xia and the Zhou family moved eastward, and during the Spring and Autumn Period, those who were scholars gained power.The incidents are scattered in the records of the three biographies of "Zuoshi", "Gongyang" and "Guliang". The classics exist and can be described in detail.However, the so-called scholars in Chinese society do have their special status in society, and have special significance and special value in cultural traditions, and the fact begins with Confucius.

Confucius said: "Scholars aspire to the Tao", and Mencius said: "Scholars uphold the aspirations", that is, to uphold the way they aspire to.At the beginning of his way, he cultivated himself, and after that, he cultivated his family.By extension and extension, there is a family and a hometown.If it is further extended and expanded, there is a way to govern the country.Furthermore, if we go beyond the country, there is a way to level the world.In fact, the so-called body, family, country, and world are the distinctions passed down by the ancient feudal aristocrats, such as the so-called Yu, Tang, Wen, and Wu, which can be traced back to Tang Yao and Yu Shun. All over the world, follow it consistently so that you can become the Holy Emperor and Ming King.But at that time, there were rituals of Xiu, Qi, Zhi, and Ping, but Confucius synthesized them and elucidated them, advocating the way of Xiu, Qi, Zhi, and Ping, in order to be widely practiced, and become a complete system, that's all.

Confucius also praised Yan Yuan and said: "Use it to do it, and let it go to hide it, but I have a husband with you." Those who use it use their way, not their body.If you can use the way, you will be born to practice the way.If you can't use the way, you will hide the way in your body, and you would rather retire than be an official.Don't show yourself in the official career, in order to pass on the way to future generations.The old man can use it or not.You can be an official.You don't have to be an official.But if there are scholars in the society, their way will be spread in the world.

Confucianism has four subjects, virtue, language, political affairs, and literature.Speech, political affairs, that is, everything after entering an official position.And words come before politics.Because political affairs are only carried out domestically, words are used for international diplomacy, and the affairs have surpassed the country and reached the world.Therefore, the use of words is still above political affairs.Literature is not enough to be used, but is devoted to classics and articles, the above-mentioned ancient times, and passed down to future generations.Where the article is, that is, the Tao.And above the three, virtue is the first.If you don't have this virtue, you will not be called a human being, and what are the three of them?Confucianism is also different from the advanced and the late.Confucius preached in the early days, and those who came to his door were advanced. At that time, they all had ambitions to use the world, and those who studied literature in detail.Confucius preached in his later years, and those who came to his door were latecomers. At that time, Confucius was already old, and he sighed, "If the way is not good, I know it."Therefore, most of the scholars who came to China devoted themselves to articles and classics, seeking, preaching, understanding, and evangelizing the Tao, but their ambition to use and practice the Tao was relatively slow.Confucius said: "If you use it, I will be advanced." Confucius' heart to practice the way and use the world is old but still exists.

The first of the four subjects is virtue.The first person in virtue is Yan Yuan.Yan Yuanzhi's self-report said: "The master taught me with literature, and invited me with courtesy." The essays of Bowo, that is, the essays of the four subjects of Chinese literature, are funded by seeking, preaching, and clarifying the way.If you ask me to give courtesy, I will use the world to do the way.Confucius said again: "A gentleman is not a tool." He also said: "The scholars of ancient times are themselves, and the scholars of today are people." Use it to do it, and let yourself do it.If you give up, you hide, and you hide the Tao in yourself to pass on to the world.Seeking the integration of self and Tao, so it is said: "for self".If I only use my body for others to use, then my body is just like a vessel, and there is no way to speak of it, so how precious is it.Confucius used Zigong as a vessel, and said: "The vessel of Zigong is Hulian." Hulian is hidden in the ancestral temple, which is a precious vessel and cannot be used casually.For example, Ran You, Confucius said: "It is not my disciple, the boy beats the drum and attacks it." If Ran You is only used by Ji Sun, it is still inferior.

In the subject of virtue and conduct, there are still Min Zisai, Ran Boniu, and Zhong Gong.Why did Confucius call Yan Yuan alone?Or these three people, if they give up, they have their virtues, but if they are used, they can't be as talented as Yan Yuan.Or because all three of them died early, Confucius only called Yan Yuan.In short, it is easier to hide, but more difficult to practice.A gentleman is not a weapon, but he still values ​​it as a great weapon, and this is the meaning of it.It is inappropriate. The death of Confucius, the disciples of Confucianism are generally valued by all parties, but none of them have been used by the upper class.His subsequent disciples, such as Zisi, Mencius, and Xunqing, all gained great names, but none of them were highly valued by the upper-level politics.Below Confucianism, all the philosophers prospered together, and the one who followed Confucius was Mo Di.The Lord loves both, rubbing the top and letting the heels go, benefiting the world.However, Mo Di was not highly valued by the political elites of various countries.Mozi has introduced his disciples to enter the official career in many ways, but no Mohist disciples have been reused since Qin Huali.The Mohists have Juzi organizations, such as Meng Sheng and Juzi, who are the leaders of Mohist disciples from all over the world.He was an official in Chu, and he was only a family minister, and three hundred people died in office.After Mo Di has Yang Zhu, the master is for me, and the world will not do it if he pulls out a hair.It is not used much in politics, and there are no disciples to pass on its name to the world.Secondly, there is Taoism, and Zhuang Zhou was only a lacquer garden official in Song Dynasty.The state of Chu hired him as chancellor, but Zhuang Zhou resigned, saying that he would rather be a tortoise with its tail dragging in the mud than hide bones in the ancestral temple.Then its intention tends to hide it if it is discarded, and it is a way to do it if it is not intended to be used.Lao Tzu succeeded and only wanted to be a holy king, so who would use him?There are five thousand words in the book, and no famous disciple is known to the world.

Others, such as famous scholars, first started Huishi, were friends with Zhuang Zhou, and once served as King Hui of Liang, but their political achievements are unknown.It is also not very useful.Zou Yan, the head of the Yin-Yang family, was respected and respected by all countries, but he has not seen much use.Qiwei, Xuan, and Min dynasties had the position of Mr. Jixia, who enjoyed a generous salary from all the sons, and allowed him to teach apprentices freely.There are as many as 70 advanced people, who have written books and made reports, and many of them are good at fame, and the dead have not been seen to be reused in politics.However, the Zongheng family has been reused in the world alone.However, Mencius said: "Gongsun Yan Zhang Yi, the way of concubines." Later generations will no longer be included in the academic forest of pre-Qin scholars as political strategists.

Others, such as in the early Warring States period, Shang Yang was used for Qin, and Wu Qi was used for Chu.Shen Buhai was used in Han, but Shang An and Wu Qi were not allowed to die in the end.Shen Buhai is the prince of Han, and he is also different from Shiliu.Secondly, if Fan Sui was used in the Qin Dynasty, after being offered by Cai Ze, he finally abdicated, recommended Cai Ze and retired.However, Cai Ze has never heard of any achievements.Le Yi used Yan to make great achievements, but was eventually slandered and fled to Zhao, but fortunately he escaped.For example, Yu Qing was used in Zhao, but she was not prominent, so she retreated and wrote books.Lu Buwei was used in Qin Dynasty, recruiting guests to write books, making himself famous, and was eventually reprimanded.When Han Fei entered Qin Dynasty, he was slandered and imprisoned and died.Among the nine streams of the Warring States Period, there were legalists, but in fact, the scholars at that time gathered disciples to give lectures, and there was absolutely no one who was planning for the ruling power of a country, a monarch, and a government, and formed a school.The name of Legalism should come after Han Fei.And Han Fei and Han's sons, although listed in Xunqing's family, are also different from ordinary scholars.

From the above, although the Warring States period was called a period of sudden expansion of the power of scholars, the scholars gathered together to give lectures and formed a family of their own, such as Confucianism, Mohism, Taoism, names, yin and yang, and the promises of farmers. The master, and his successors, who had a great academic reputation and performance at the time, were never used in politics.Those who are used in upper-level politics are only academically below the third and fourth ranks.And it is rare to be content.It is a great fortune not to die.But what is the special significance and value of the so-called first-class scholar in the influence of Chinese cultural tradition and history?

To put it plainly, the influence and contribution of Chinese scholars mainly lie in society.That is to say, as promised, I personally practice Leisi, plow the fields, and Chen Xiang's disciples gather and follow.A scholar is more close to his teacher and respects his teacher than his king.This is not only the case of Confucius and Mo Di, but also why it is not the case when it comes to doing things like this.Therefore, in Chinese society, the most respected relatives are teachers rather than emperors.It is a person in the field, not a minister in the court.During the Warring States Period, only the Seven Heroes were major powers, each ruling the whole of China.And those who serve as scholars and teachers are the yearning and admiration of all Chinese people at that time.Is it worth comparing with the king?Even the political upper class had to bow down.Respect the virtuous and respect the scholars.For example, when Yan Chu saw King Xuan of Qi, he declared clearly that the king was not the most valuable for scholars, and King Xuan was no different.Another example is that when King Zhao of Qin saw Fan Sui, he even knelt down to beg for words.Among the Seven Heroes back then, wouldn't King Xuan of Qi and King Qin Zhao be the leader of it all the more majesticly, and his honorable corporals were like this.Like Yan Chu, like Fan Sui, how could he be a great virtuous sergeant at that time?And the kings of Qi and Qin respected and respected them like this.Its greatest meaning and value is that the political upper class dare not claim to be the most honorable and noblest position, but they know that there is still someone who is more honorable and noble than that, and those people are not far away, that is, they are in the lower class of the society they rule.Let me give you an example. If Qin soldiers besieged Zhao, the survival of Zhao was imminent, and he had to surrender to Emperor Qin to seek the safety of Gou Quan.At that time, Lu Zhonglian was in the besieged city, but he protested against it alone, saying that Emperor Gou Qin, Zhonglian had to cross the East Sea to die.With a poor man in white, he crossed the sea and died, in terms of great events in the world, the rise and fall of a country, it doesn't matter.However, Emperor Qin's proposal was abandoned.Because these things have been eulogized through the ages, later generations regard them as solid, and they are no longer cherished.However, people today no longer cherish its great significance and value in its influence on cultural traditions and history.Isn't this a great pity?

Lu Zhonglian was not the emperor of Qin. Although his reputation spread throughout the world, after Zhonglian's death, Qin finally became the emperor, and Zhonglian's reputation and spirit before his death are still there.Therefore, when Qin was in power, Li Si was the prime minister.Li Sinai was a small official in the state of Chu, and he was born under Xunqing's family, so he was like a scholar.When Shang Tang was in power, Yi Yin was the chancellor.When King Wu of Zhou came to power, the Duke of Zhou was his prime minister.Qin Shihuang succeeded Tang and Wu, and Li Si was his prime minister, so Ze Si also succeeded Yi Zhou like a tripod of three.When Dr. Qin discussed the Qin government, the first emperor made his own decision, and he discussed it with the prime minister.It is not wrong to abolish feudalism in Sri Lanka.However, the order to burn books originated here, and later generations despise it, not to mention the number of people.I don't know that Sizhi was at that time, but he was also of great use as a scholar. At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, there were no scholars, but Shu Suntong was once a doctor of Qin, and his disciples were the court instruments of the Han Dynasty.Then the world is also ashamed of it, and it is not listed as a soldier.At the same time, like Shangshan Sihao, the imperial court could not hire them, and the prince recruited them.Gao Zu saw Si Hao next to the crown prince, so he abandoned his plan, and the crown prince was finally succeeded as Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty.It is the Han Dynasty that is the Han Dynasty, and the world that has been in the world for more than two hundred years is four bright and powerful.Scholars' influence on politics is seen in the world, and there are examples like this. In the early Han Dynasty, Jia Yi, who was really called a scholar, was more than 20 years old, and he published "Policies for Public Security", which shocked the court.Emperor Wen summoned him and wanted to make more use of it.The disciples of Jiangguan were dismayed and released as Changsha Wang Taichuan.Gui was summoned and talked until midnight.Emperor Wen repeatedly moved his seat forward, and said that he hadn't seen Jia Sheng for a long time, and he thought it was too late, but he knew it was too late to meet him now.However, Jia Sheng continued to be the Taifu of Liang Wang, but he was still not used in the court.Liang Wang went hunting, fell off his horse and died. Jia Sheng died of shame and resentment because he had not fulfilled his teaching.However, most of the major policies in the Han Dynasty from Wen to Jing were based on Jia Sheng's original proposal.Jia Shengzhi has made great contributions to the Han Dynasty, and is far better than Sihao. Dong Zhongshu was born after Jia.Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty respected the Five Classics and dismissed hundreds of schools, all of which were issued by Zhongshu's countermeasures.This is not only the fact that Han is Han, but also that China is China in the next two thousand years. Zhongshu's countermeasures at that time had a great influence and effect.And Zhongshu was not widely used in the dynasty.Gongsun Hong is a herdsman from the East China Sea, and Chaoyong is the Prime Minister of Han Dynasty.It is different from Zhongshu if he fails to learn to speak, but to learn from Qu.However, in China, if you are a real scholar, you will not be of great use.Those who have won great use may not be real scholars.For example, Gongsun Hong and Dong Zhongshu are examples. Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, as a student of the Taitai in Wang Mang's era, raised troops to conquer the world.There is no limit to being a fellow classmate for a while, galloping among the soldiers and horses, and being a martyr.Therefore, in the history of China, the world was won by scholars and a government of scholars was established, which started in the Eastern Han Dynasty.At the same time, Yan Guang, a classmate, could not avoid Duyin.When Guangwu was a student of Tai Tai, he paid much attention to it.I have won the world, and I can't stop thinking about it.I visited all over the country, and got it on a fishing beach on the Qiantang River.Escorted to Beijing, and after the interview, they slept in the same bed.However, Yan Guang died and returned home, so that he would end his life without being an official.Confucius said: "Use it to do it, and discard it to hide it." He also said: "Not being an official is meaningless." Yan Guang is not a mediocrity, but he is not a member of Zhuang Zhou's Taoism.Otherwise, I will not travel to Taixue, nor will I be respected by Guangwu and other students.In Yan Guang's heart, it is not that he looks down on others, despises Guangwu and his classmates in the imperial court, saying that it is absolutely unbearable to be in the same class, and it will damage his own conduct.But when Wang Mang was in chaos, he used stealth to fish on Yanling Beach, and once all the students came out, the world would return to peace.Out of all others is like out of oneself.When people do their best, they also share their rewards, so it will not increase their inner shame.I do my own way, still fishing all year round, so I have nothing to regret.Peeping into the light's intentions at the time was nothing more than that.However, Yan Guang's personality and deeds, and his influence on the style of scholars of later generations are supreme, deep and profound, which is not what Yan Guang expected back then.One is to prosper the king's dynasty, with the emperor's closest friends, but there are those who are not favored and safe.The second is that a fisherman in the rivers and lakes is respected and valuable, and he is above the founding emperor, king, and acquaintance.Since the Qin and Han dynasties in China, the unified government has been superior, while the emperors, courtiers and ministers are respected and respected by the whole country, and even those who are higher than them are transferred to the grassroots and ordinary people in the lower class of society.Not only the contemporary, but even the rulers and ministers of the Yi Dynasty, all respect each other, as if it were a matter of course.There is no doubt, there is no contention, and it is normal.This is a characteristic of Chinese traditional culture, and the use of scholars is nothing greater than this. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zheng Xuan was called Zhengjun, who was also called by the imperial court but did not go.The Yellow Turban sings chaotically, and warns each other not to enter Zheng Zhengjun's hometown.Then the nobles of the former kings can be killed, but the grass of the hometown of the dead is not to be violated.The Yellow Turban is not praised by later generations, but this incident will be recorded in the annals of history and praised by later generations.It was a ray of light at that time, inheriting the ancient times from the top, and inspired Lai from the bottom. This can also be said to be an example of the use of scholars. After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the Three Kingdoms of Wei, Shu, and Wu followed, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan were all scholars.For a while, the officials Xun Yu, Zhuge Liang, and Lu Su Mo Feishi.One Zhuge can make the Three Kingdoms shine on future generations, just like the Han Dynasty.But there is still a man named Guan Ning.At the beginning, he fled in Liaodong, and when he returned to the middle land, he dug wells and worked hard, and Cao Cao couldn't get out.Later generations respected it, saying that it is still above Zhuge.Zhuge was a political figure in the end, although he said that he did his best and died, but in the end he could not be saved from the chaos of the world.Guan Ning, on the other hand, is a savage character. Although the times are chaotic, the society has to preserve a perfect person.Then this society is not all bad in the end, and there is still hope for the future.Confucius wanted to live in Jiuyi, and he said: "The way is not working, I know it." Even though he is as holy as Confucius, he is helpless in the chaos of the world.However, Confucius also said: "Your future generations are to be feared, how can you know that those who will come are not now."The whole world is in chaos, but one man stands tall.It is rare for future generations to follow Zhuge's example, like Liu Xianzhu's three visits to the thatched cottage.However, if you want to be Guan Ning, you don't have to wait outside.Sima Qian wrote "Historical Records", creating a biographical style, and later generations regarded it as the head of official history.As for the seventy biographies, Boyi is the first, and they are not used in the world.Sima Qian was convicted of speaking about Li Ling's affairs, and he was spared death by imperial punishment.Although it was written in Emperor Wu's inner court, he was no longer interested in political affairs.It is not seeking for the present, but seeking for future generations.His "Letter to Ren Shaoqing" speaks freely.Guan Ning can express himself outside of written works.Sima Qian has also been trapped in the political circle. It is not as good as Guan Ning's Xiao Ran, who is still a social figure who is easy to achieve his own aspirations, self-sufficient, and competes with Boyi without starving to death.However, in the Zhou Wu Dynasty, Boyi Shuqi can be tolerated at the foot of Shouyang Mountain.Cao Cao, a traitorous hero in his life, can also be tolerated under his rule, just like Guan Ning's digging a well and working hard, and he is hired without going.Sri Lanka also sees Chinese politics, which also has its own unreachable aspects.Even this end is enough as an example. Below the Jin Dynasty, there was the Wuhu Rebellion first, followed by the confrontation between the Southern and Northern Dynasties.Compared with the Han Dynasty, it is far inferior.However, the rise of the group of people is not ashamed of the past.Let me give you one person, Tao Qian.Ashamed of bending his waist for five buckets of rice, he wrote "Return to Laici" to caress the lonely pine.It can be said that he made no contribution to the political affairs at that time.However, his poems are very popular, and the more popular they become, the older they become, the fresher they are, and they have survived for thousands of years.Almost every Chinese scholar, every scholar, all recite his poems and admire him as a human being.Before it, there were 300 ancient poems, including Qu Yuan's "Li Sao", all of which were full of political nature.However, Yuanming's poems are definitely seen as pastoral poems, mountain and forest poems, and grassland and common people's poems.However, although his poems are immersed in the lower class of society, they can eventually affect the upper class of politics, which can be said to be the third of the tripod with poetry and Sao.In the Jin Dynasty and the Southern and Northern Dynasties, only one collection of Tao Yuanming's poems can be followed by three generations and the Han Dynasty, and the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing Dynasties have become a new page in the history of Chinese culture.The great use of scholars in the world, such as Yuanming, is not an example. Down to Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, before he became the emperor, there was a group of eighteen scholars and one scholar.Compared with Han Guangwu especially.However, the change of Xuanwumen, brothers fighting against the wall, finally became a matter of shame in Taizong's heart.Unfortunately, his father, who was the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, suffered from the change of the palace wall.Wei Zheng first served as Prince Jiancheng, and later served as Taizong. This cannot be compared with Guan Zhongzhi's official Qi Huan.Wei Zheng also can't feel guilty.Therefore, in Taizong, there is no excuse for his mistakes, and there is no end to his advice.Even if Wei Zheng died in this way, it would also be clear that when he became an official, he was not a personal salary at the beginning, and he could confess to the world and future generations without regret.However, Taizong was also aware of Wei Zheng's abnormal encounters, and he was extraordinarily generous.One book must be a textbook that the emperors of later generations often read.The relationship between Taizong and Wei Zheng is especially the main program in the book "Politics".It can be seen that politics is an important and indispensable business in the society of people, but when reality is involved, the ideal will be diminished every time.Therefore, it is not easy to be a political figure.For example, Yiyin's fifth is Jie, and fifth is Tang, how can it be lawful for human beings.He put Taijia in Tonggong, and if Taijia didn't know how to repent, how could Yiyin follow suit?Duke Zhou punished Uncle Guan, released Uncle Cai, and exterminated relatives righteously, which is not the way for brothers to get along.If a king is made to be an elder, his virtue is not as good as that of a man, so how can the Duke of Zhou be good at his successor?There are still difficulties with the sage of Duke Zhou of Yi Yin.Therefore, Confucius said: "Use it to do it, and give it up to hide it." Emphasizing the way and despising officialdom, this also contains a lot of deep considerations, how can I say it out of the blue.Now China's political affairs must be done by scholars.As for scholars, they would rather retreat than advance. This is Zhuge Liang's so-called "indifferent and clear ambitions, quiet and far-reaching".And Chinese politics often have to maintain a good position.His social life will eventually flourish.It is a major feature of traditional Chinese culture to make people more important than government.Even in Tang Taizong and Wei Zheng, you can also get a glimpse of it.If politicians must be regarded as the supreme and perfect standard of life, then this life is too hopeful.But China has a higher standard and a higher realm for human beings.And politicians, who tend to go to this realm, also have to admire this standard.This is a gentleman in Chinese society, so it is one of the most meaningful and valuable features of Chinese culture. Although the regimes of the Jin Dynasty and the Southern and Northern Dynasties were chaotic at the top, scholars can still hide in their families.Down to the Tang Dynasty, science prospered, and family status gradually declined.Being a scholar is the way that the group tends to be elected to politics.Politically speaking, this is a big step forward.The rest are scholars who do not engage in politics, but turn to Buddhism and Taoism, which is heresy.And politicians also believe in Buddhism and Taoism.Therefore, there may not be more people with social standards in the Tang Dynasty than in the Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties.The lofty political ideals passed down in ancient times have tended to be dimmed.This is indeed a big step backward.In the mid-Tang Dynasty, there was Han Yu who advocated ancient prose.Yu Zhi said: "To love ancient writing is to love ancient ways." Han Yu can be said to have inherited the great tradition of Chinese scholars.Fortunately, there is a collection of Changli, which can be compared with Yuanming Collection between Jin and Song Dynasty, but it is still better.However, Han Yu was not widely used in the upper-level government.He admonished to meet the Buddha's bone watch, but almost fell into death.For example, Han Yu can be regarded as one of the standards of the Tang Dynasty in terms of his integrity.That is to say, Du Fu, the poet saint, should come second.And at the same time singing ancient prose such as Liu Zongyuan, it is even more incomparable with Han Yu.Down to the Song Dynasty, Han Yu was first seen as the first outstanding person in the Tang Dynasty.This cannot be known by anyone who has a deep understanding of the significance of the great unity of Chinese culture.Wouldn't it be good to be interested in politics, and to be good at poetry and prose, that is, to be the best scholar?But as far as part of the anthology is concerned, it is true.If you expand on the Dao of life, then Han Yu may not be as good as Tao Yuanming as a human being.This should not be weighed, and this article will not discuss it in detail. However, the society in the Southern and Northern Dynasties still had a lot of scholars, so the Sui and Tang Dynasties followed it into a prosperous age.However, there were few scholars in the late Tang Dynasty, so the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms followed, which was one of the most bleak and darkest periods in Chinese history.At that time, there was Feng Dao, who was regarded as a scholar by the group.He lived in five dynasties, eight surnames and eleven monarchs, and claimed to be the elder of Changle.It's not like Feng Dao, and he can't be self-sufficient in his world.However, if everyone is like Feng Dao, the whole life will be lost, and they will die together, so how can they comfort themselves with the long happiness of one person.Song Xing and Ouyang Xiu's "New History of the Five Dynasties" began with Feng Dao's conclusion, and Han Yu began to be admired.As a result, the traditional Chinese light has to shine again, and the traditional culture has to be carried forward again, and the Song Dynasty can be called an era of social toasts. Toasts in the Song Dynasty had flourished in the Han Dynasty.And the government's heavyweights are even better than Han.The scholars of the Song Dynasty were very useful in politics, and there is nothing like Wang Anshi and Sima Guang.However, due to the struggle between old and new parties, the Northern Song Dynasty finally fell into ruin.Wang Anshi is an idealist, and he wants to make his king the king of the Tang and Yu Dynasties.Sima Guang is an empiricist, and it is enough to only hope that the government can be as good as that of the Han and Tang Dynasties.However, the ideal must be seen in reality.Confucius said: "If it is useful for me, I will be the Eastern Zhou Dynasty." I don't know if Confucius saw it at that time, so what about the specific facilities of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty?According to the traditional concept, Wang Anshi is a school of Confucian classics, so there is the definition of "Three Classics and New Meanings".However, in the Han Dynasty, Confucian classics were in the hands of doctoral officials, and the entire dynasty took Confucian classics as the standard of governance.Doctoral officers do not personally participate in government affairs.Today, Wang Anshi, in his capacity as prime minister, defines the scriptures as the standard for school education and government imperial examinations. It is almost as if the orthodoxy is subordinate to the political system, which is obviously contrary to the righteousness of Chinese cultural traditions.Sima Guangnai's school of history, author.Han and Tang also had historians who recorded the actual administration of the past dynasties for future reference.Gain or failure, success or failure, close to utilitarianism, must be learned from classics and morals.Although historiography can learn from the past to know the present, but if history is divided, historiography is by no means enough to be regarded as the standard of politics.Therefore, the struggle between old and new parties at that time turned into a political struggle.The gains and losses of the political power that are contested inevitably have right and wrong that are contrary to morality.So there was a third party, Zhou Lianxi. Lianxi was a county magistrate at that time, but he was outside the atmosphere of party struggle at that time.Author of "Yitong Shu".According to Confucian classics, it is advocated to aspire to what Yi Yin is, and to learn what Yan Zi is learning.Yi Yin's ambition is in the world.Yan Zi's learning, use it to do it, and give it away to hide it.Mainly especially in the Tibetan side.Brothers Ming Dao and Yi Chuan, two Cheng brothers, rarely heard of his teachings. Although they also went in and out of the old and new parties, they finally retired to give lectures.Hengqu Zhangzai also became a schoolmate with Ercheng.Hence the rise of Confucianism.Neo-Confucians can be regarded as newcomers in the Chinese cultural tradition, generally retreating from the field and not competing for power.Respect orthodoxy to be the leader of political orthodoxy.Political affairs are defeated at the top, but morale is right at the bottom.The Northern Song Dynasty fell, the Southern Song Dynasty was peaceful, and the style of Neo Confucianism flourished.Zhu Xi came out and collected it.Zhu Zi did not see much use in politics at that time, but he wrote the annotations of "Mencius", and the chapters and sentences of "Great Learning" and "The Doctrine of the Mean", which were designated as "Four Books".Down to the Yuan Dynasty, it was regarded as the standard for the government to select scholars through imperial examinations.Its function has actually replaced the Five Classics of the Han Dynasty, and even surpassed it.Until the end of the Qing Dynasty, this system of selecting scholars remained unchanged for seven hundred years. In the Yuan Dynasty, the Mongols ruled, and the political system was easy to ascend, while the orthodoxy still existed.Chinese society is still a Chinese society, and it has not changed much.People in the society take the lead in not being an official and giving lectures in the field.There are also officials who are regarded as the second-rate among scholars and cannot be respected by society with the people in the field.The Yuan Dynasty not only selected scholars based on the principles of the "Four Books", but also ordered all counties across the country to set up academies. When a county magistrate first came to office, he must attend the academies to listen to lectures, which was the first thing he did when he took office.However, Yuanzheng died in the end of eighty years.Following the Ming Dynasty, China was restored.However, the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty still exist, and the rate of being a scholar is higher than not being an official.First, Fang Xiaoru was punished by the ten clans.Therefore, scholars inherit the Taoism, and their reputation is easily feared every time it is higher than the emperors and ministers.For example, Wang Shouren was demoted by Longchang Station, and he narrowly escaped death.In the end, in his capacity as a scholar to give lectures, he was still employed as the governor of Jiangxi, and he made great contributions to the change of Chenhao.However, it should not be reused in the end.He and his disciples were not in official positions, but they were famous in the government and the public for their academic lectures.Gu Xiancheng and Gao Panlong died in Wuxi, and Donglin gave lectures, and they fought against it.It is said that giving lectures in the field should not forget the political affairs of the temple.However, Gao Panlong also died in the name of the Donglin Party, and committed suicide by throwing himself into the pool, and Ming Zuo could not be rescued in the end. In the Qing Dynasty, Manchurians were also ruled by foreigners, and at that time the scholarly atmosphere was flourishing, such as Li Shi, Gu Yanwu, and Huang Zongxi.Another example is Lv Liuliang, who advocated nationalism in the "Four Books" of Zhu Zi, who set up a subject to select scholars in the Qing court, and was punished by mutilation.Emperor Yongzheng issued the book "Dayijue Milu", which shows that everyone in the world must read it.Soon, his books were also imprisoned, and no one in the whole country could see them.It was not until the end of the Qing Dynasty that the folks began to reprint this book, and it was rediscovered by the people of the country together with Lu Liuliang's book.Many people today can talk about the literary prison of the Qing court. Yongzheng was the one who practiced the literary prison repeatedly, and Yongzheng was also imprisoned for writing books. This is an ancient anecdote.People today also talk about China's autocratic politics since the Qin Dynasty, and there are so many historical records that it is necessary to discuss it in detail.Yongzheng was a king of a foreign race, and he was known for his cruelty and cruelty.If we focus on this example, don't you see that traditional Chinese politics, even though it is called an autocratic monarchy, has a limit to its autocracy.This limit refers to being a scholar in society. Moreover, Lu Liuliang's advocacy of national righteousness is based on Zhu Zi's book.Although Lu Liuliang was murdered, Zhu Zishu was still revered by the court.Lu Jiashu also regarded Zhu Zishu as the first person in the Qing Dynasty to be enshrined in the Confucius Temple by order.At that time, many dignitaries in the Qing court were named after Zhu Xue.Jiashu was humbled by a county magistrate, and he was handed over to Lu Liuliang during his lifetime, so he was the first choice to enter the Confucian Temple.Seeing the embarrassing feelings of the emperor at that time, it was a hundred times more than Tang Taizong's not killing the farmer Weng Wei Zheng.In Chinese tradition, the use of scholars is still seen in the hearts of foreign autocratic emperors. Qian Jia Qing Confucianism, a symbol of Sinology, anti-Song studies.In fact, it is not an anti-Song study, but an anti-Zhu Zi.It is not against Zhu Zi, but against the imperial court's imperial examinations.All Confucians were born in the imperial examinations, that is, the group claimed to be their studies by anti-imperial examinations and anti-Zhuzi, and the Qing court was helpless.Since Daoguang, the power of the west has spread to the east, but the style of Chinese scholars has changed greatly.Because Hong Xiuquan failed in the imperial examination, he set up troops in the mountains of Guangxi, worshiped Jesus as the brother of heaven, and regarded himself as the brother of heaven. The name of the founding of the country was "Taiping Heavenly Kingdom".As a result, the Confucius Temple was burned.Zeng Guofan held a regiment training with a servant from Xiangxiang, and he died to quell the chaos of Hong and Yang.His ambition is not to protect Qing, but to protect Kong.Guofan also died but was not used by the Qing court.At that time, he was the emperor of Tongzhi, who ruled with the people, that is, he did not dare to be autocratic by the emperor.After that, he became Emperor Xianfeng, who was rich with the people, that is, he did not dare to rely on the emperor to be alone.It can be seen that although the emperors of different races have scruples about Chinese society.Most of the outstanding scholars are not reused.And in the end, he will share the world with the scholars, and dare not be content with autocracy.A twenty-five-year history, the social outliers, whose relationship and influence affect the upper-level politics of the court, can be seen from the above-mentioned examples in this article. The Revolution of 1911 and the establishment of the Republic of China, the political system changed from above, and the orthodoxy also changed from below.In the early Republic of China, there was the New Culture Movement, which called for criticizing and opposing Confucianism and overthrowing the Confucian family shop.The clerks in the Confucian shop are the so-called lower class people in this article.From then on, the society has people but no warriors.There is no king above and no scholars below, and this is a common and completely westernized state.Western democracies are not the only political system in the whole country. There is also a financial system, that is, capitalism.Western suffrage is mainly manipulated in the financial system.Academic system does not play an important role.School teachers, as well as newspapers and magazines, various publications, freedom of speech, this can be called the academic system.However, it is still two different things from forming a party for election.Religious belief, separation of church and state, freedom of belief, this is called religious order.According to the Chinese concept, the Western academic system is closer to the educational system, and the political system is closer to the financial system.The separation of church and state can be said to be independent of each other.This is also very different from the Chinese political system that is subordinate to the scholar system, that is, the so-called orthodoxy of the Chinese people.In the modern West, there was a system of labor.Laborers also strive for equality, independence and freedom, and groups go on strike.Therefore, in Western politics, the academic system and the educational system do not occupy an important position in politics, but are only in the hands of the financial system and the industrial system.But advocating the majority, the financial system will eventually be transferred to the industrial system.Recently, such as the current situation in the United Kingdom and the United States, we have already seen its clues.It gathers parties for elections, strives for a majority, and forms a government, which can also be called party unity.But the party rule and the government rule have nothing to do with the so-called orthodoxy and scholar rule that have been handed down through the ages in China.This is a major difference between Chinese and Western cultures. Confucius said: "Scholars are committed to the Tao, but they are ashamed of those who wear bad clothes and bad food, which is not enough to discuss." Therefore, the Chinese scholar system will never become a financial system.Western studies are classified into different categories, with each becoming an expert and each having its own system.In China, self-cultivation, family harmony, country governance, and world peace are all consistent. There is no such thing as a man who does not aim at the peace of the crowd.Therefore, there are different systems in the West, while in China, the system of scholars is the orthodoxy.But it is by no means a religious organization and does not form a religious system.Mencius said: "Scholars have aspirations." He also said: "Those who work hard will feed on others." Scholars are not a profession, but they are different from workers.The Chinese also say, "Gentlemen are a group of gentlemen and not party." Party system.Chinese scholars have their own system, the so-called orthodoxy.This is a unique feature of the Chinese national life culture tradition, which is not found in other nationalities. Recently, in the West, there has been a trend of not allowing the existence of different systems, but only allowing one party to rule, that is, the Communist Party.Under this party rule, financial management, academic management, educational management, and labor management are not allowed to have their own freedom, but they are only subject to the dictatorship of this party.This is the current Soviet system.Chinese people also admire this.Since the Republic of China, there has been a dispute between Chinese and Western cultures.Westernization has gained momentum, followed by the struggle between democracy and totalitarianism.To put it bluntly, it is a dispute between the United States and the Soviet Union, while China itself has retreated into a position of no tradition and no status. Today there is a call for cultural revival, based on the Three People's Principles of Dr. Sun Yat-sen who founded the Republic of China.The first is nationalism, and there should be an understanding of the traditional life and traditional spirit of the nation.The second is civil rights doctrine. Mr. Zhongshan said that the power belongs to the people, but he can rule the government.If the government is capable, it does not wait to take orders from the people one by one.The last is people's livelihood. Mr. Sun Yat-sen once said that people's livelihood is communism.But it cannot be said that communism is the principle of people's livelihood. "University" said: "Don't worry about scarcity, but worry about inequality." The traditional Chinese economic ideal is closer to socialism than capitalism.And traditional Chinese people are also a proletariat.According to Mr. Zhongshan's intention, the establishment of financial management is not allowed.As for the party system, Mr. Sun Yat-sen said that the Kuomintang is a revolutionary party.It means that there can be a party during the revolution, but Mr. Sun Yat-sen did not say clearly whether there is still a party after the revolution is successful.But Mr. Sun Yat-sen, since he is capable of leading the government, he does not need to obey the party.The five-power constitution advocated by Mr. Sun Yat-sen, such as examination power, legislative power, supervisory power, etc., all belong to the political system, not to the party system. Mr. Sun Yat-sen's Three People's Principles is a long-term program for nation-building, not a temporary policy.Therefore, it still belongs to the orthodoxy, not to the rule of governance.This is Mr. Sun Yat-sen's foresight. It was developed after deeply understanding the great cultural tradition of China's 5,000-year history. It should not be compared with the modern thoughts and speeches of Westerners.This is a major premise that must be deeply understood to elucidate Mr. Sun Yat-sen's Three People's Principles.And whether China still needs to have scholars in the future, and how to revive the system of scholars, this is also the unique spirit of our country's national life, so it should be carefully considered and discussed. China's scholarly system is not only different from other nations, but also the outline of what it has learned and believed in is also unique.This should be discussed in detail in another article, not this one. (Written in September 1981, published in "Taiwan Daily")