Hengqu asked four questions, and Bai Ze read it. The meaning was so profound that he couldn't understand it all at once. He knew that what he had achieved in his life had reached a state of perfection, and he felt admiration in his heart.
Now the old scholar handed him "Four Questions on Hengqu". Although he didn't explain it clearly, it already had the reality of preaching.
Bai Ze's mood was complicated, and he knew that he shouldered the important task of preaching to the old scholar. If he could not find a suitable person for the old scholar, the principles of this book would naturally be passed on by him and even Jian Xi.
However, due to admiration, Bai Ze disagrees with the second dialogue between the fisherman and He Bo in the book, which is also the second of Hengqu's Four Questions: asking about the good and evil of human nature.
In the second question, the old scholar put forward his views on the good and evil of human nature under the guise of He Bo. He believed that human nature is inherently evil, and the so-called moral ethics of saints are all falsifications of nature, and pure goodness through acquired constraints.
The good and evil nature of human nature has always been a major topic of debate among Confucianists. Confucian masters have always had different views on whether people are born with good nature or evil nature.
Bai Ze studied in Jixia Academy in his early years, and the gentlemen in the academy did not form a unified view on this.
The theory of good nature, headed by the Master, and the theory of evil nature, headed by Yuan Tiangang, the first of the Seven Sages of Jixia, are competing against each other, and no one is convinced by the other.
But in Bai Ze's heart, he still prefers the theory of good nature. Bai Ze does not deny that there are many evil people in this world, including himself, who also have evil deeds.
But no matter what, if human nature is inherently evil, then where does good come from? Is it just the moral restraint of a saint? People in the Taoist sect often say that the robbers will continue until the saint dies.
The sage steals the great road of heaven and earth, and follows the law with his words. In the [realm], he is simply like a god. The Taoist sect does the opposite of the Tao, emphasizing on conforming to nature, integrating the body with the Tao, cultivating to reach the extremes of heaven and earth, and living as long as the Tao.
If human nature is inherently evil, even if the saint follows the law, he will still be out of reach in a place where the law is not spread.
And in those places, how can there be no trace of benevolence and righteousness? Since benevolence and righteousness exist, where does it come from?
Master said it well back then,
"Everyone has four ends of mind. The heart of compassion is the end of benevolence; the heart of shame is the end of righteousness; the heart of resignation is the end of courtesy; the heart of right and wrong is the end of wisdom." These four ends are The basis for human nature to be good.
The sage said
"When people are born, their natures are good. Their natures are similar, but their habits are far apart." Evil thoughts are not inherent in the mind, but come from thoughts.
Bai Ze put together "Four Questions on Hengqu" and included it as a chess piece. In short, no matter how Confucianists argue about the good and evil of human nature, it has nothing to do with him fundamentally.
Although Bai Ze studied in Jixia Academy when he was young, the path he followed was, after all, the three pillars of the Taoist sect that towered over the heaven and earth.
The ambition of the young man in Mai is to become a new swordsman in the world of Kyushu. It is not to establish a sect, pass down the Taoism for Confucian saints, or even educate all living beings.
Although his trip to the secret realm of Kunlun made him think about Buddhist scriptures, his current cultivation level and experience are not enough to integrate the three schools of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism and open up a path of his own.
So whether it is reading the books of sages or having the opportunity to delve into Buddhist scriptures in the future, in the final analysis, it is still a wedding dress for him to practice Taoism.
The moon and stars are sparse and frost covers the fields, and the heaven and earth are so cold that people hesitate. In the remote outskirts of the town, the boy in sackcloth finally waited for Chuxue.
On the day when the snow fell, a clear sword cry came from the sword stove in the thatched cottage in the suburbs. In this small town far away from the hustle and bustle, the old scholar drinking tea and watching the snow in the snow hall sighed deeply, looked in the direction of the thatched cottage, and remained silent.
Town entrance, writing
Under the boundary gate with the word "Hengqu", gourd vines are wrapped around the pillars. The wind and snow are like swords, but the sky is full of heavy snow, but it is clear that it cannot invade him in the slightest.
"Su Bing, Su Bing!" Jian Xi's struggling cry came from the wind and snow. The gourd vine reluctantly turned into a human form and looked at the little girl whose hands and face were red from the cold. She was still limping behind her. Followed by a little kid, it was Zeng Bao, the youngest son of the Zeng family.
"Su Bing, why didn't you go to the library to listen to your teacher's lecture today?" Jian Xi blew into the long mist, but in the cold winter wind and snow in the north, the mist was blown away as soon as it came out.
Su Bing said impatiently: "It's snowing heavily today, I'm too lazy to move."
"How can you learn anything if you fish for three days and dry the nets for two days?" Jian Xi said to him in an old-fashioned way.
"The teacher said that you should persevere in reading."
"That kid studies every day, but he doesn't seem to be very capable." Su Bian rolled his eyes when he heard this and pointed at Zeng Bao behind Jian Xi.
When Zeng Bao heard this, he stared and said, "No matter how incompetent I am, it's still better than you just basking in the sun all day long!"
"I am Calabash Vine. It is my principle to bask in the sun and absorb the essence of the sun and the moon." Su Bing smiled and said,
"You two are studying, have you ever read any truth in the book? I heard about strange people and visions. You two don't look special. I don't think you can read anything. Why don't you go and bask in the sun with me? , when are you happy? I will teach you how to absorb the essence of the sun and the moon." Zeng Bao was somewhat tempted.
But Jian Xi sighed and said disdainfully: "Who wants you to teach me? You are my master's defeated general. You should take care of yourself." Hearing this, Zeng Bao showed admiration.
Su Bing was stunned and his face suddenly turned red.
"He's just a robber who stole my gourd." The little monster hummed in his mind. The sound of the sword was covered by the wind and snow, but it could not escape Su Bing's ears.
The little monster who looked like a child looked at Jian Xi and suddenly said: "Hey, Xiao Heitan, what were you talking about before? Your master has finished casting the sword, and you are leaving here?"
"Yes." Jian Xi said,
"Master told me this. He said he was a sword cultivator, and the only thing he could teach me was swordsmanship. But I don't know how to practice yet, so I couldn't use the flying swords in his hands. He said they were too murderous and would cause damage. My body. So you have to personally forge a sword that suits me. Because it is just forged, it does not have a vicious aura and will not harm me."
"Whenever you learn to fly with a sword, like your master, will you come back?" Su Bing said, pretending not to care.
"Of course, I will definitely not miss you. I just don't know if Zeng Bao will miss you." Jian Xi glared and said, "I will definitely come back! My mother is still here. Besides, why did he Do you want to miss me?" The little girl glanced at Zeng Bao and said,
"Do you still want to be manipulated by this girl into teaching his father to break his other leg?"
"Who would miss you!!" Zeng Bao said fiercely, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"When you go out, if you are bullied by others, don't cry!"
"Hey, I'm protected by my master, who dares to bully me?" Jian Xi said proudly. The three children got together and bickered, and no one would give in to the other.
Half a month ago, after Zeng Bao reluctantly apologized to Jian Xi under Zeng Wu's threat, the little girl saw how pitiful he was and finally chose to forgive him.
Although they still exchanged more harsh words during their daily interactions, the children were still children after all. The Zeng family helped them repair the thatched house and was so busy that even if Jian Xi still felt uncomfortable, what could she do?
Maybe that's good. At least when she and her master left the town, her mother would have someone to take care of her.
Jian Xi ran to the thatched cottage in the suburbs every day. Seeing the sword gradually taking shape under the tempering of the sword furnace, she knew very well that the time for separation was getting closer and closer.
On this day, when Jian Xi ran to the thatched cottage again, heavy snow had already accumulated on the roof of the thatched cottage.
The cold winter wind was biting, and the gentle-faced boy in linen clothes was drinking wine alone in the thatched cottage, looking at the vast expanse of snow.
Jian Xi looked at Bai Ze's back in shock, feeling that the master seemed to be recalling some past events, and he was alone, a bit lonely.
"Jian Xi, you're here." Bai Ze suddenly turned around and waved to the little girl. Jian Xi had already guessed it in her heart, and walked up to Bai Ze with some unknown mood.
The boy in linen patiently brushed the snow off the little girl's head and body with his hands, and handed the completed dagger to Jian Xi.
Jian Xi took the dagger from Bai Ze's hand and took the blade out of its sheath.
"Qiang!——" The body of the short sword is like a Hongbo, carrying a dense aura. When Bai Ze made the sword, he added spiritual stones to the sword furnace, but after all, the sword he forged with his own hands could not be turned into a piece of ordinary iron.
"From today on, this sword is yours." Bai Ze said with a smile.
"This is a gift from my master, but I haven't given it a name yet. Why don't you give him a name?"
"Thank you, Master. Xi'er likes it very much!" Jian Xi couldn't put it down while holding the dagger. With crooked eyebrows, she said with a smile: "Master, why not call her Hengqu. Master and I met in Hengqu, so we have to start here. Leave and go to a wider world...Hengqu, is this a good name?" Bai Ze smiled and said, "It's a wonderful name, just hope Xi'er likes it." The snow kept falling.
The sky and the earth are blurred, and there are no traces of them. The fire in the sword furnace in the thatched cottage gradually became cold. …
