Chapter 15 12. Meeting of Giants

Two thousand and five hundred years ago, in Luoyi, two great saints finally met. "Birds can fly, fish can swim, and beasts can run... The Lao Tzu I saw was like an erratic dragon, elusive..." Confucius sighed. In early summer, the sun is shining brightly, and the mountains under the blue sky and white clouds are becoming more and more lush and vibrant. On the ancient road leading to Luoyang, a carriage was running, and Confucius and his student Nangong Jingshu were sitting in the carriage.When he was about to arrive in Luoyi, Confucius lifted the curtain of the car and looked at the city and palace not far away, his face glowed red with excitement.

"Ah! How exciting Zhoudu Luoyi (now Luoyang City) is coming, it's really exciting!" "Teacher, it's my first time to go to Beijing, and I'm very excited." We are approaching Luoyi, and the majestic palace in the inner city is already clearly visible, and the resplendent palace is shining under the bright sun. Confucius said: "This time we have three things to do in Beijing. One is to pay homage to Mingtang Palace, the other is to go to Taimiao to pay homage to Zhou Gong, and the third is to visit Lao Dan (Lao Tzu)." "Okay, the teacher thinks too well."

The car arrived at Luoyi, passed the Chengguan, and drove into the bustling streets. "Ah, what a bustling street market, much more prosperous than Qufu." Nanguan Jingshu said. "Yes, it is indeed the capital of the country." After crossing several streets, we arrived at a larger building, and the car stopped. "Teacher, let's live here. My brother said that this posthouse is near the palace." "Okay, we'll stay here." The book boy took down the luggage. Uncle Nanguan Jing went to find the owner, who saw that the distinguished guests from the state of Lu had arrived, so he led them to a high-end guest room.

During dinner, Confucius said: "Thank you two brothers for your invitation to Lord Lu, otherwise I would not be able to come to Luoyi." Uncle Nangong Jing replied: "This is a small favor, what we should do as disciples." It turned out that it was Meng Yizi and Nangong Jingshu brothers who went to play the king and asked Confucius to go to Luoyi for a pilgrimage to ask for gifts.Lu Zhaogong considered Confucius' influence in Qufu, and at the same time wanted him to help him suppress the arrogance of Ji Pingzi's courtiers in the future, so he forgot about it.He also gave him a carriage, two horses, and a book boy. Accompanied by Nanguan Jingshu, Confucius came to Luoyi.

"Teacher, please tell me about the history of Luoyi." Nangong Jingshu was a very studious person. He asked Confucius about the rites and music along the way, and when he arrived in Luoyi, he was curious all the way, asking long and short questions, and Confucius answered them one by one. "Luoyi, the earliest time in the Western Zhou Dynasty, was the eastern capital built by the Duke of Zhou. When King You of Zhou, because King You loved Baosi, he staged a farce on the Great Wall of the Great Wall, which attracted the invasion of Di Yi. Moving here, Luoyi has since become the capital of Zhou Tianzi."

The two people who were drinking at the other table listened, and one of them, a middle-aged man with long hair and shawls, asked, "Look at your attire, you are from the country of Lu!" Uncle Gong Jing said, "Exactly." "Why did you choose this time? Now Luoyi is divided into two factions, and they are facing each other inside and outside the city!" "Ah, what is the reason for the confrontation, please tell me." Uncle Nanguan Jing asked in surprise. The man said: "When King Jing of Zhou was alive, he wanted to make Wang Zichao the prince, but he died suddenly. The ministers wanted to make Prince Meng, so Wang Zichao killed him and made himself king. Jin people supported the prince again. Beggar. Right now Zichao occupies the city as one faction, and Zibeg resides outside the city as another faction. However, there is no confusion now, otherwise why would you come here?"

"Oh, that's right." Nangong Jingshu heaved a sigh of relief. The man asked again: "Is the doctor here to play?" Confucius replied: "I came to the capital of Zhou mainly to inspect the rites of Zhou, to pay homage to the rules of the Ming Hall, and to observe the degree of the temple dynasty." The man saw that Confucius was extraordinary, and his conversation was good, so he said: "May I ask your lord for your name." "My surname is Kong and my name is Qiu." Nangong Jingshu said: "He is the famous sage Confucius." "Ah, it's Confucius, no respect, no respect. I heard that Confucius was a sage in Qufu. He was knowledgeable and well-versed in rites and music. It is a great honor to meet him today."

"Where, where, my lord is..." "Oh, I'm a young disciple of Lao Dan, named Wuwei." "Great, I'm going to visit him in a few days." "I would like to lead the way for you." "Thank you Wuwei." The next day, Confucius and Nangong Jingshu went to pay their respects to the Mingtang of the palace.The resplendent Mingtang is the place where the emperor meets, discusses affairs, declares politics, sacrifices, celebrates, and selects scholars.The main hall is simple and majestic, magnificent. Confucius and Nanguan Jingshu entered the Ming Hall under the guidance of a special person. Confucius’ eyes were attracted by the Yi wares displayed on the hall and around them. He looked at them one by one and inspected...

Confucius pointed to some ritual utensils and said to Nangong Jingshu: "Look, Uncle Jing, these Yi utensils are used to worship the heaven and the earth. Because the Mingtang and the ancestral temple are one, it is also called 'Miao Dynasty'." "Oh, yes, I remember." Confucius pointed to the portraits hanging on the wall and said, "Look, these are Yao and Shun." "Oh, the sages of Yao and Shun." Confucius walked to the statue of Duke Zhou and stopped for a long time. ...Ah, Duke Zhou, I have finally arrived in Luoyi, which you built. This time, I want to study the rites and music you formulated carefully, and I must take them back to the country of Lu.

Nangong Jingshu saw Confucius standing in front of a painting for a long time, so he walked over. Seeing that an old minister was holding a young emperor in his arms, meeting the princes in front of a screen embroidered with an ax picture, he asked: "Teacher, is that old minister the one you often talk about when Duke Zhou assists Chengwang?" "Yes, you see Duke Zhou is so magnanimous, so upright." Uncle Nangong Jing pointed to the two paintings and said, "Teacher, these are Jie and Zhou." "Yes, remember the reason why they died." Nanguan Jingshu nodded.

"Teacher, look at the picture of Fuxi and Nuwa mating." Confucius came over: "This is the ancestor of mankind." The next day, Confucius went to pay homage to Taimiao, which was the temple of the ancestor Houji of the Zhou Dynasty. Nangong asked: "Teacher, Hou Ji is the child that Jiang Yuan threw away!" "Yes, Hou Ji is the ancestor of Zhou. His mother is the daughter of the Tai family, named Jiang Xun. Jiang Yuan is the concubine of Emperor Ku. Jiang Yuan went to the suburbs and saw the giant's footprints by the river. She stepped on it, but she became pregnant. Later, she gave birth to a child, and she was terrified, so she threw the child into a back alley, but the passing cattle and horses would not trample on him. Jiang Xun threw the child into the woods again, In the end, many birds flew over and protected him with their wings. Jiang Xin realized that this child was not an ordinary child, so he took him home again and named him Qi..." Nangong was fascinated by the sound, and hurriedly asked, "What happened next?" "When this child grows up, he likes farm work very much. He likes to plant beans and millet, and he grows very well. Everyone comes to learn from him. After Emperor Yao heard about it, he was appointed as a farmer. Emperor Shun also praised him and sealed him. Yu Tai changed his name to Houji. Later, Houji became the ancestor of Zhou, and led the Zhou family to develop agriculture, making the Zhou Dynasty stronger and his reputation spread all over the world.” They climbed the steps, entered the temple, knelt down to the statue of Houji, and burned incense to pray for good luck to the world. In the afternoon of that day, Confucius and Nangong Jingshu followed Laozi's disciple Wuwei to visit Laozi's house. Lao Tzu greets the guests outside the door and lets the guests into the house. After the guests and hosts are seated, the family members serve tea.Confucius saw that Lao Tzu's face was black and red, his silver hair and white beard fluttered, his eyes were proud, and he looked like a fairy. Seeing Confucius' square face, thick eyebrows, big eyes, and piercing gaze, Lao Tzu thought that Confucius really lived up to his reputation, and at first glance he was a man who wanted to make a difference. "Did you just come from the state of Lu?" Lao Tzu asked. "No, I've been here for a few days. I visited Mingtang, Taimiao and other places. The next step is to read books in the storage room for a few more days." "Okay, okay, I have a lot of books here, just take a look..." Confucius said: "The reason why I came from afar is to look up books that are not available in Qufu." "Ah, good, good, Zao Chuang, you are a very knowledgeable and talented person in the country of Lu. Admiration, admiration. I am not as old as you!" Confucius hurriedly said respectfully: "Where, where, the old man is too polite. The old man is older than me, and he is in charge of the storage room. He must be more knowledgeable. How can I be as good as you?" "I am an erratic person. For me, books can be available or not. I can read them or not read them. In my opinion, abandoning sage wisdom will benefit the people a hundred times. Therefore, it is better to make the people ignorant. No desire. If so, why do you need to read so many books?" "This..." Confucius was stunned. Lao Tzu also said: "The goodness of the ancients is the way. If you don't understand the people, you will be stupid. The people are difficult to govern, but there are many. Therefore, governing the country with wisdom will be the thief of the country; not governing the country with wisdom will be the blessing of the country." "If you don't govern the country with wisdom, is the blessing of the country?" Confucius was puzzled. Confucius didn't speak after hearing this, but I never expected Lao Tzu to say such a thing. Confucius thought, maybe Lao Tzu was modest, and when he heard that he studied Taoism, he asked humbly: "The old man is very proficient in Taoism, Qiu would like to ask you to teach me." Lao Tzu took a sip of tea from his teacup and said, "Tao is a thing, but it is trance. Trance is trance, there is image in it. Trance is trance, there is something in it." Confucius was puzzled, and asked again: "May I ask the old man that Tao is prior to things, and things are prior to Tao?" Lao Tzu's eyes are half-opened and half-closed: "There are things that are mixed, congenitally born, lonely, independent and unchangeable...you can be the mother of heaven and earth." "The other is that she is the mother of all things?" Confucius chased after him. Lao Tzu didn't seem to hear it, he seemed to have merged into that indescribable, intangible realm of Tao... Confucius had no choice but to ask another question, so he said, "Old man, I would like to ask about the rituals of Zhou." "In your opinion, what is etiquette?" Laozi still half-closed his eyes. Confucius said: "If a person is not benevolent, what is it like to be polite? If a person is not inhumane, how can he be happy? Li is the shape of benevolence, and benevolence is the core of propriety." "Then... how can I be polite?" Lao Tzu asked. Confucius said: "If you don't know etiquette, you can't stand up. If you serve the country with etiquette, you should restrain yourself and return to etiquette." Laozi looked at the sky and said: "Man follows the earth, the earth follows the sky, the sky follows the Tao, and the Tao follows nature. Why should we restrain ourselves? People should not be bound by anything. You see how free the birds and fish are. restricted!" "Restrain oneself and return to the courtesy, the world will be benevolent." Confucius said. Lao Tzu looked at Confucius and thought to himself, it is a virtue not to fight for it, so why bother arguing with this young man, he said, "According to my observation, you will take it as your duty to become an official in the future?" "Yes, a man should do something. Stand at thirty, and I'm over thirty. Besides, if you are good at learning, you will be an official. I will be an official." Lao Tzu smiled lightly: "If you do nothing, you can do everything. Why do you have to do something? Those who are content are always happy." "The old gentleman from now on..." Lao Tzu replied with a smile: "In my life, I am happy with food, beautiful with clothes, comfortable with living, and happy with faith." "Then according to the old man's opinion, how should we govern the country?" "Govern by doing nothing, rule by doing nothing..." "Government by doing nothing?" Confucius listened in a daze. "Okay, let's stop here for today's discussion. You have a famous saying called 'the way is different, don't conspire with each other', why should we say more!" "Then... old sir, Qiu is leaving." "Okay, okay, you are welcome to check in the storage room anytime." "Thank you, old man." Confucius thanked Lao Tzu again. "No courtesy, no courtesy." The two giants finally met in Luoyi, the eastern capital, in 518 BC, when Confucius was thirty-four years old. On the way Confucius and Nangong Jingshu drove back to the library, Jingshu asked: "Master, your point of view is so different from Lao Tzu's!" "Yeah yeah!" "Then...then why do you still want to visit him?" "Threesomes, there must be my teacher, not to mention his knowledge is very profound." Confucius and Nanguan Jingshu went to the storage room to check books every day.Confucius hungrily flipped through the pages, watching... Confucius picked up a book, walked to the table and sat down. Nangong Jingshu unfolded the white silk, and Confucius copied it. "Uncle Jing, look, these few poems are not found in the State Officials' Hall of the State of Lu. So this time, I have to copy some more." "Teacher, I will copy for you too." "it is good." Confucius and Nangong Jingshu came early and returned late every day, reading and copying books in the storage room every day.There are many books in the storage room, no matter "Poetry", "Li", "Yue", "Yi" and even "Five Classics"... everything, and there are various laws, regulations, edicts and historical files, especially What excites Confucius is that the historical archives of all countries are complete, including those of Lu, and Confucius tirelessly reads them... Confucius and Nanguan Jingshu went to study the rituals of Zhou again, and returned to the library. After dinner, the two went for a walk in the street together. Uncle Jing asked: "Teacher, what are the rituals?" Confucius said: "Rites are divided into eight kinds of rituals: funeral, sacrifice, shooting, township, crown, faint, court, and betrothal. The so-called mourning is the ritual for the funeral of parents and elders. Sacrifice refers to shooting, It refers to the drinking ceremony in the village and the shooting ceremony after the state banquet. There is also a crown, which is about the crown ceremony held when a man reaches the age of 20. In addition, faint, that is, wedding. Chao, that is, the ceremony of the meeting of the monarch and his ministers. present." After Confucius finished speaking, Nangong Jingshu said: "Teacher, please summarize what I just said." Confucius said: "Rituals begin with crown ceremonies and complete at weddings. The most solemn ceremonies are funeral and sacrificial ceremonies. The most respected rites are court and betrothal ceremonies. The most harmonious rites are village and shooting ceremonies." Nanguan Jingshu nodded happily. One day, Confucius and Nangong Jingshu went to visit the court musician Chang Hong. After the doorman announced to enter, the old musician went to the gate to greet him in person. "My Confucius, I am here to visit the master." Confucius said with a bow. "Ah, it's Confucius. I've admired him for a long time." Chang Hong clasped his fists and said. "It's a pleasure to meet you, it's a pleasure to meet you." Confucius saluted. "Greetings, master." Nangong Jingshu stepped forward and bowed to salute. "This noble son is..." "Oh, he is Nangong Jingshu, the second son of Shangqing Meng Xizi of the Lu Kingdom, and he will accompany me to watch the ceremony in Beijing this time." "Oh, it's a great honor for you two gentlemen to come to my humble house. Please come in, please come in." After the hall, the guests and hosts were seated, and after the family served tea, Chang Hong said, "I heard about Master's name in the State of Lu earlier. It's a great honor to meet you this time. I wonder why Master came to Beijing?" Confucius replied: "Visit Rites and Music." "Oh, the master is famous for his etiquette and music. I am not ashamed to ask the old man today." "Where, where, the master has superb piano skills and profound music theory, and I can't match it. Qiu heard that the master is good at martial arts. Qiu really wants to listen to "Da Wu". I wonder if you can give me some advice?" Chang Hong stood up and said, "If you want to listen to "Da Wu", I will play it just for you." So, Chang Hong sat behind the piano and started picking... Listening to the sonorous and passionate music, Confucius seemed to see King Wu of Zhou in military uniform, riding on a tall horse, leading an army to attack King Zhou of Shang. ...It seems that I saw a fierce fight between the two sides... Ah, the Zhou army turned against the front line, King Wu took advantage of the victory and entered Chaoge, and King Zhou burned himself in the palace amidst the shouts and flames... King Wu won, and Zhou's flag was planted Arrived at the palace of Shangdu. The army returned triumphantly, Duke Zhou and Duke Zhao went on the Eastern Expedition again... The three-year Eastern Expedition was finally victorious, and the mighty Western Zhou Dynasty was established... At the end of the song, it took Confucius a long time to come back to his senses, and praised: "Great, this is the real Zhou Le. Thank you so much." Chang Hong said: "I heard that the master is also very proficient in music. I want to hear the master's thoughts." Confucius said: "I feel that the purpose of Zhougong's rites and music is to be happy." "Zhengle?" "yes." Chang Hong said: "I want to hear Master's opinion on Zhengle." Confucius replied: "Zhengle is the joy of opposing injustice." "It's right to oppose the pleasure of indecentness." Confucius went on to say: "The purpose of Zhengle is to be based on propriety, so that music can be achieved." "Okay, that's very good. It's a great fortune to have a conversation with Master today." Confucius was about to return to Lu, so he and Nangong Jingshu went to bid farewell to Laozi. After the door was opened, Confucius said to the doorman after saluting: "We have come to bid farewell to Lao Dan." "Oh, the old man has resigned." "Ah! What about others?" Confucius asked in surprise. "Hidden into the sky." …Confucius stood there in a daze. "Teacher, let's go then." A car was driving on the road, and Confucius and Nangong Jingshu were sitting in the car. "Uncle Jing, this time the harvest is not small!" "Teacher, I have gained a lot. I have gained a lot of knowledge. I have read so many books. I can't use them up in my life. I feel that the world is too big." "Yes, yes, the world is very big. In the future, we will all have to go around the world." "Teacher, why do I feel that Lao Dan is like a floating cloud, elusive." "It's a bit erratic, but it's very philosophical..." Suddenly, there was a melodious sound of reed pipes not far away, and the two lifted the curtain to look out... Ah, I saw a few huts under the green mountains and green waters in front of the road, and an old man with white beard in the crop field in front of him, riding on a cow Come on, next to a man playing the flute... "Ah, isn't that Lao Tzu? Why are you here!" Uncle Fu Gong Jing exclaimed. Confucius looked at it attentively, "Yes, it's Lao Tzu, just right, let's go and bid farewell to him." The two got out of the car and walked to the field. "Hello, old sir." Confucius bowed to Lao Tzu who was riding on the ox. "Oh, is it Confucius?" "yes." "Go back to the country of Lu?" "Yes. Before leaving, I went to your mansion to bid farewell to you. Your family said that you had resigned and left. I asked him when you will return, and your disciple said: 'If you don't have a fixed time, maybe you will go back, maybe you will go back. Wandering the world.'” Lao Tzu smiled lightly and said, "He's right, he's right, he's wandering around the world, wandering around the world..." "The End of the World..." Confucius was taken aback. Lao Tzu looked into his surprised eyes and said, "I see you, you really want to do something, but maybe it will be futile, and you might even get hurt. So, I want to say a word to you." "Please tell me, sir." Confucius bowed his head and listened respectfully. "Wealthy people give away with property; righteous people give away with words. I can't be rich, so I have to use the name of a benevolent person to send you off with words..." "Ah, sir, please give me a word." Lao Tzu said leisurely: "A person with foresight is in danger because he is prone to talk. A learned and eloquent person is easy to endanger himself because he exposes the ugliness of others. Therefore, both sons and courtiers Forget yourself, have less desire, less pride, this is no desire, no self... Well, everyone has his own ambition, so let’s say goodbye. Goodbye.” "No desire, no self..." Confucius was startled again. "Teacher, what does it mean to have no desires and no self?" Confucius shook his head: "Maybe he has his own deep meaning, but I really dare not agree with him." "Teacher, let's have our own ambitions, don't think too much, let's get in the car!" "Wait a minute." Confucius stared blankly. Lao Tzu floated away on the ox, followed by Hua's student Wuwei. At this time, the melodious and contented flute sound echoed in the field... Confucius stared blankly at... Back in the state of Lu, Confucius’ family members and disciples were busy moving the slips and handwritten silks that Confucius had brought back into the house. Confucius said to his wife, Qi Guan: "I bought these books, and I copied the silk and silk in the national treasury. They must be kept well, and they will be useful when sorting out the "Poetry" in the future." "Hey." After all the luggage was moved, Confucius sat down in the main room. His wife brought tea, and Confucius took a few sips. His disciples gathered around and asked questions... Zeng Xi said, "Teacher, what have you visited?" "We visited the palace hall and Taimiao, and I will tell you about the rituals and music of the Zhou Dynasty in Luoyi. Luoyi is indeed the capital, where the emperor of Zhou is located, and the rituals and music are indeed very upright." Yan Lu said: "Teacher, I heard that you also met Lao Dan. What kind of person is Lao Dan?" "Oh, he!" Confucius drank two more sips of tea, put down his cup, and said, "Birds can fly, fish can swim, and beasts can run. If they can run, they can be caught with a net; if they can swim, they can be caught. You can hook it with a thread; if it can fly, you can shoot it with an arrow. As for the dragon, it can rise to the sky on the clouds. The Laozi I saw is like an erratic dragon, elusive.” "Lao Tzu is indeed very godly. He is superficial and real, with or without, and muddled. He can't get close to him!" Confucius sighed again. This morning, Confucius, Meng Yizi, and Nangong Jingshu were facing the sun and boarded the golden Lu Palace.Today, Lu Jun will summon them. Lu Jun met them in the imperial study. After the three of them kowtowed, Lu Jun said: "Don't slap me and flatten your body." Mr. Lu had heard that Confucius was tall and powerful, and he had an extraordinary aura. Today, he has lived up to his reputation. He has a full and vast sky, a nose as high as a mountain, and a pair of big eyes under thick eyebrows. Lu Jun was so stunned that he forgot to ask questions.It was Meng Yizi who said: "My lord, the teacher wants to report to you!" "Oh, oh...Okay, please tell me, please tell me." Only then did Lu Jun come to his senses. "My lord, under the care of the lord of Meng this time, I was able to observe the rites of Zhou in Luoyi. Luoyi is worthy of being the foot of the emperor of Zhou. There are rich rituals and music, and the atmosphere is elegant. We visited the Mingtang of the palace, the Taimiao, and some Celebrities have benefited a lot. Especially when they saw the rites and music handed down from King Wen of Zhou, and all kinds of tripods were intact, I was very relieved!...In addition..." Confucius paused and said, "We also visited The storage room, consulted and copied a large number of documents..." Lu Jun listened with interest and nodded from time to time. Confucius also reported the meeting with Laozi and Chang Hongyue. Lu Jun said: "The harvest is not small, and I will go to Luoyi when I have the opportunity." The country must protect the rites and music under the Zhou Gong system. The Master has always been known for emphasizing rituals and music, and hopes to maintain more Zhou rites." Confucius hurriedly said: "Maintaining the rituals of the Zhou Dynasty is a duty-bound duty." Lu Jun asked again: "Master, what did you feel the most when you came to Luoyi this time?" Confucius said: "Although Zhou Li exists, it seems to have become a mere formality. In fact, the prestige of Zhou Tianzi has been declining. Significantly less." Lu Jun asked: "In your opinion, what should we do?" Confucius replied: "I think that the emperor should be like the emperor, the princes should be like the princes, the king should be like the king, and the ministers should be like the ministers. No one can overstep." This sentence touched Lu Jun's sore spot. Ji Pingzi and other three officials' arrogance did not take Lu Jun seriously, and Lu Jun felt a throbbing pain in his heart... Seeing that Mr. Lu's expression was not very good, Confucius thought that the three ministers' arrogance must have touched his heart, so he couldn't say anything more, so he saluted and said goodbye: "My lord, that Qiu will leave, thank you, Mr. After the three of Confucius left, Lu Jun looked at Confucius' back in a daze, and thought: I wanted to use Confucius a long time ago, but it was the obstruction of these three powerful officials that prevented me from using him. Be sure to use Kong Qiu.Lu Jun secretly made up his mind.