Chapter 11 Chapter 7 Apprenticeship to an Expert

The young Sima Qian studied under Dong Zhongshu and Kong Anguo, and also sought advice from one high teacher after another in the capital, and his knowledge became more and more mature day by day. In the main hall, Emperor Wu said: "Dong Aiqing, I love the great unification of the Spring and Autumn period you advocated. I have issued an edict to respect Confucius, advocate unification, promote the Five Classics, run Chinese studies, and become a doctor. What else can Aiqing do in the future?" advocate?" Dong Zhongshu came forward and said: "The emperor is wise, the great unification can strengthen the centralization, that is, strengthen the imperial power, but my ministers think that although the imperial power is supreme, the monarchy is granted by God, so the imperial power is not fearless."

Dong Zhongshu looked up at Emperor Wu, who said, "But it's okay to talk." "The humble officials thought that if the ruler and ministers violated the will of the people, they would be punished by heaven, and disasters would happen." Emperor Wu's expression darkened when he heard this, and he asked, "What kind of Dao is this?" Dong Zhongshu hurriedly replied: "Going back to the emperor is a theory of divine punishment." "God's punishment..." Emperor Wu sighed, and asked, "Anything else to say?" Dong Zhongshu cleared his throat and said, "Theory of the Three Cardinal Guidelines and the Five Constant Principles."

"What are the three cardinal principles and five constant principles?" Emperor Wu asked. "Your Majesty, the three key principles are that the ruler guides his ministers, the father guides his son, and the husband guides his wife." Emperor Wu nodded and said, "Okay. This is Confucius' monarch, minister, father, son, and son. I agree." "The emperor is holy." "What about Wuchang?" "Benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trustworthiness." Emperor Wu nodded again and said, "Okay, I will issue an edict to promote the Three Cardinal Guidelines and Five Constant Principles."

"The emperor is holy." Sima Qian listened to Dong Zhongshu's answer with great admiration, his eyes were shining brightly, and his face was flushed with excitement. After the court was over, he chased after him, and saluted Dong Zhongshu who was walking in front: "Mr. Dong, please be respected by Xiaosheng. Your answer is really great." Dong Zhongshu didn't know Sima Qian, so he asked the minister walking beside him: "This young master is..." "Oh, he is the son of Ma Tan from the Taishi Company. Taishi Gong often brings him to His Highness to listen."

Sima Tan caught up: "Ah, Mr. Dong, this is my dog, Sima Qian. I have offended you. Hurry up and bow down to the master." Sima Qian hurriedly knelt down: "Master Gao, please be respected by Xiaosheng." "Please get up, please get up." Dong Zhongshu helped the young Sima Qian. Sima Qian said: "I know that the old man studies very hard. He didn't visit the garden for three years." "Haha... yes, I haven't left the study to visit the garden for three years. Sima Qian, what do you appreciate about the old man's point of view?" "I admire your great unity."

"Haha..." Dong Zhongshu laughed again, "Okay, he has such eyesight at such a young age, he deserves to be the son of Tai Shigong." "Sir, I'm overwhelmed. In the future, I will ask you to teach me more." Sima Tan said. "Okay, okay, okay, okay." Dong Zhongshu's mansion, in the study, Dong Zhongshu is speaking "Spring and Autumn" to Sima Qian. Dong Zhongshu sat behind him, with bamboo slips and books spread out on the table, and Sima Qian sat behind him on the left, listening and writing on the bamboo slips. "Teacher, please enlighten me, what is the righteousness of "Spring and Autumn"?"

Dong Zhongshu put down the slips of letters, picked up the teacup, opened the lid, blew on the powdered tea, took a sip and said: "To know the meaning of "Spring and Autumn", one must first know the era background and writing motivation of Confucius' "Spring and Autumn". Dong Zhongshu stood up, walked to the window, looked at the fallen leaves under the tree outside the window, thought of the loneliness of Confucius when he wrote "Spring and Autumn" in his later years, and said: "The era in which Confucius lived was the decline of the royal family, the hegemony of princes, and the collapse of rites and music. At that time, ministers tyrannized the ruler, sons killed their fathers, it could be said that the ruler was not the ruler, the ministers were not ministers, the government was not established, and the etiquette and righteousness were not clear, so..."

Sima Qian blinked and said: "So, Confucius wrote "Spring and Autumn" to be righteous and clear." "That's right. So Confucius wrote "Spring and Autumn" to set things right." The doorman came to report: "My lord, Taishi Company is about to see you." "Ah, please, please come in." After Sima Tan took his seat, he waited: "Come down here to see how the dog is doing and whether he violated the school rules." "Ah, where, where, Mr. Ling is extremely clever, especially his keen understanding of history, he is worthy of being the queen of the Taishi family."

"Mr. I'm so honored. Recently, my hometown brought a tiger skin as a present to the old man. It is used to protect the old man from the cold in winter. I heard from Qian'er that the old man suffers from rheumatism and bone pain. This tiger skin is the best way to prevent moisture when placed on the bed." "Ah, thank you, thank you." Dong Zhongshu took the tiger skin. "Mr. Dong, how is Quanzi doing?" "Study very well, he has a good foundation, and it is effortless to teach him. It is really a tacit understanding!" "Thank you sir."

Dong Zhongshu stood up and told his family: "Bring some wine, I'll have a drink with Tai Shigong." So the family served food and wine, and the two chatted freely. After three glasses of wine, the two began to chat. "The old man is going to tell him "Zuo Zhuan" after finishing "Spring and Autumn"." Sima Qian sat beside his father, poured wine for the teacher, and listened to their history talk. Dong Zhongshu said: "In fact, Tai Shigong is more knowledgeable than I am. I heard that you know astronomy, geography, and personnel affairs. "

"Where, where, I just learned astronomy from Tangdu when I was young, "Yi" from Yang He, and Taoism from Huang Zi, so most of the schools of thought have a little understanding. "It's not just a little familiarity, it's a proficiency. It's worthy of Tai Shigong." Tai Shigong took a sip of wine and said: "Now the emperor only favors your great Confucianism, and the empress dowager's set of Huang Lao is a bit unbearable. The emperor is young and promising, and he is determined to rejuvenate the country and revitalize the government, so he should respect Confucius. Confucianism." Sima Tan nodded: "Yes, yes, young people should be able to do something, that's why I entrusted Qian'er to you, because I want him to study Confucianism well and be less influenced by Huang Lao." Dong Zhongshu also nodded: "Suffice it to say, Huang Lao's thought of inaction and inaction has completed his historical mission. Now that Emperor Wu will end the 70-year recuperation, the court should do something." "Okay, let's make this cup for today's deeds." Sima Tan said. The two drank it down. "I also want to drink to your son's success in further studies." The two had another drink. In the afternoon of that day, Sima Tan took his son Sima Qian to Kong Anguo's mansion by car to pay homage to his teacher. On the way, Sima Tan introduced to his son: "Kong Anguo is a well-known Confucian master in Chang'an. He is proficient in "Shangshu". Discovered. Because it is written in seal script, it is also called "Guwen Shangshu." "Oh, father, what is the difference between the ancient text Shangshu and the modern Shangshu?" "Sixteen chapters more than Jinwen "Shangshu". Now Mr. Kong Anguo has translated it into today's official script. What you learn from him is Jinwen "Shangshu." Sima Qian said excitedly: "Father, Kong Anguo is really amazing, I would like to learn from him." When they arrived at Kong Anguo's mansion, Sima Tan handed over a name card, and the doormen went in to announce it. After a while, Kong Anguo greeted him out of the door. "Ah, Lord Taishi Ling, please come in, please come in." After sitting down and exchanging pleasantries, Kong Anguo, who had all white beard and hair, asked Sima Qian kindly: "Young master, how old is Nian Geng?" "Oh, Quanzi is fifteen years old this year." Sima Tan replied on behalf of his son. "Youth is promising, and youth is promising." Kong Anguo asked again: "What did you learn at home?" Sima Tan replied: "Gunzi is at home, studying in the academy in his hometown, mainly studying "Zhou Li". After arriving in Chang'an, he studied "Spring and Autumn" and "Zuo Zhuan" under the teacher of Master Dong. Now he wants to study "Shangshu". " Kong Anguo wanted to test his skills, so he asked, "Which one is your favorite, young master?" Little Sima backslidden: "Ah, I like "Fatalwood". Okay, what else do you like?" Little Sima Qian backtracked again: Kong Anguo praised Sima: "It seems that Mr. Ling has a sense of justice." "This child is very righteous, and he swore to write official history in the future, so he has been taught a lot by the old man." Kong Anguo said to Sima Qian: "It seems that the young master advocates justice. The "Shangshu" is a book about political states. Are you interested?" The little Sima moved back and said: "Mr. Bo, I have just started to learn the "Shangshu", and I know a little bit. It is the record of the official historian. It records the affairs of the previous kings and is good at politics." "Then which one do you like best?" "I love to recite the "Oath of Shepherd" written by King Wu of the Zhou Dynasty: "...the rooster has no morning, the rooster's morning, but the ropes of the family... Now I send it out, but respectful and punished by heaven... Master Xuzai, Shang Huanhuan, like a tiger like a pi, like a bear like a piss..." Kong Anguo boasted: "This young man likes Chang Zhi's articles. He is a talent. What other articles do he like?" Little Sima Qian replied: "I also like to read "Wu Yi" written by the Zhou Announcement admonishing King Cheng:...Wu Yi, the prophet foretells the difficulties of farming, and Nai Yi knows the support of villains." Kong Anguo stroked his snow-white beard with his hand, nodded, and said to Sima Tan: "Mr. Taishi, Mr. Ling may be a talent in the country in the future. Well, I will accept this disciple." "Thank you, Mr. Qian'er, hurry up and bow down." Sima Qian hurriedly knelt down to Kong Anguo. "Disciple Sima Qian kowtows to the teacher." From then on, Sima Qian asked for advice from one teacher after another in the capital.