Chapter 150: When the official who held a banquet and announced the good news finally went to the right door, the new students on the upper floor of Mingyuan of Yingtian Jiangnan Gongyuan finally waited for the academic officer.
The first time Zhu Pingan met the academic officer was when he entered the examination hall of the hospital. He only took a quick glance and felt that he was a serious elder in his fifties. At this moment, Zhu Pingan was able to observe the academic officer at close range. official.
The academic officer was about fifty years old, but he didn't look old at all. He looked energetic and handsome for an old man. He looked as serious as before. He didn't talk to the accompanying officials when he went upstairs. Even if he is joking and stuff, his aura is still very strong, maybe it is a natural result of being in a high position for a long time.
Tixueguan was the provincial education administrator of the Ming Dynasty and was appointed by the imperial court. The people who accompanied Tixueguan were officials from the educational circles of Southern Zhili.
"Okay, okay, there are so many talents." As soon as the academic officer went upstairs, he looked around at everyone and nodded with satisfaction.
"I've seen junior students mention their studies."
Zhu Pingan, along with all the new students, bowed respectfully to welcome the academic officer.
"No, no, you are the most important person today, I should avoid you." The academic officer pressed down his hand, signaling everyone not to be too polite.
Having said that, Zhu Ping'an and other new students did not dare to be presumptuous. They were still respectful and polite and did not dare to go overboard in the slightest.
"The towering China, the fragrance of its history, owes much to the inheritance of scholars. The elegance, poems of Chu and Han, poems of the Tang and Song Dynasties, and all the articles in the world are written by scholars. When you are born into the world, a hermit rises in the grass, and a handsome man emerges from the street. Although there are beautiful flowers and pearls, Those who want to take the path to Zhongshan are still unable to find it, so they join the world and become officials one after another to seek the welfare of the world. As a result, the virtuous people benefit from the superiors and the inferiors, and the literary and literary circles are prosperous and the poetry is prosperous. It is a glorious time. It is a blessing for you to be welcomed into the scholar forest today; it is a blessing for you to enter our scholar forest. . I hope you will continue to work hard..."
After the academic officer took his seat, he began to give instructions to the new students. Basically, we are great at Shilin and you are great. Keep up the good work...
This has been the case throughout the ages. After the big leader finished speaking, other leaders would summarize it. It is the same today. After a gray-haired official finished speaking to the academic officer, he stood up and made a summary of this year's academic examination. Generally speaking, it was the same as in modern times. It was a successful academic examination, a united academic examination, a satisfactory academic examination, etc. Wait, and then there are some unnutritious speeches.
Wait until everyone who should speak has spoken. This is the highlight of today - the hairpin ceremony.
After the academic officer nodded, the hairpin ceremony began. The so-called hairpin gift is not to put a flower on your head, but to give you a red flower, which is to reward you with wealth. The reward is not much, it is just two taels of silver and a red flower, but although the money is small, the symbolic meaning is great. This is the honor that many scholars dream of. This means that Shilin has opened its arms to you, starting from today. You are no longer alone, you are organized.
After the hairpin ceremony, the new students should be led by education officials such as Ti Xue Guan to visit Confucius at the Confucius Temple, which is almost the same as meeting the ancestor in martial arts, fairy, and fantasy novels.
However, there was an episode after the hairpin ceremony. The academic officer asked the surrounding officials something. After receiving the answers, the academic officer looked at the new students and asked, "Among you, Zhu Who is peace?”
Uh, could it be said that what happened yesterday came to light?
Although he was a little surprised, Zhu Pingan still stood up and bowed. "Meet Ti Xue, the student is Zhu Ping'an."
"Come forward." The academic officer waved.
What's going on here? Why should he come forward?
So, Zhu Ping'an walked up to Master Tixueguan amidst the curious eyes of everyone.
However, everyone's curiosity soon turned to envy.
Mr. Tixueguan walked up and down behind Zhu Ping'an. Then he stroked his long beard and encouraged: "You are the youngest, but you are good at writing, reciting verses and verses, and you have literary talent. From now on, you should work hard, and you will achieve a high rank in the future. Don't think you are good and forget about it, and you will not achieve any results." The former Zhongyong should be taken as a warning."
It turns out that the academic officer had good intentions.
"Students should remember the teachings." Zhu Pingan pretended to be excited, and then bowed deeply.
Mr. Tixueguan was very satisfied with this.
After the answer is completed, the academic officer will give a glass of wine as a reward.
Well
Originally, I was quitting drinking.
It seemed that the plan could not keep up with the change. The academic officer offered wine to Zhu Ping'an. He did not dare not accept it, so he had to take it and drink it.
After the interlude, it was the ceremony of worshiping Confucius.
The academic officer was in front, followed closely by other officials from Nanzhili, and then the new students lined up according to the lines from each government went to the Confucius Temple in a mighty manner.
The road from Jiangnan Gongyuan to the Confucius Temple was blocked by government officials, and only officials and new students who worshiped Confucius were allowed to go along. At this time, pedestrians were all in the shops on both sides, pointing out the new students who were filing out. Point, I am envious.
Worshiping Confucius is equivalent to the opening ceremony of new students' apprenticeship. It is said to "enter Pan Palace, leave the mansion to study, and go to Qingyun Road."
"The beginning of etiquette and righteousness lies in correct appearance, uniform color, and correct speech." - "Book of Rites? Guanyi". The first step to worship Confucius is to "correct your clothes and hat". The academic officers and other officials stopped in front of the Confucius Temple and began to tidy up their clothes, as did Zhu Ping'an and other new students. After standing respectfully "neatly dressed" for a moment, they could enter the Confucius Temple under the leadership of Ti Xue Guan and other officials.
Entering the Lingxing Gate of the Confucius Temple, you will see a Panchi, which is semicircular. Pan means half water, so the pool is semicircular. I saw a few goldfish in the Panchi, and saw a plaque hanging directly above the Dacheng Hall not far away. On the plaque were engraved four eye-catching characters - "Teacher of All Times".
Going further is the Dacheng Hall. There are five seated statues in the Dacheng Hall. The most eye-catching one is Confucius. On the left and right are Confucius's most proud disciple Yan Hui; the diligent and studious Zeng Shen; Confucius's grandson Kong Ji; and the great ancient thinker Meng Ke. . In front of the statue of Confucius are placed Tailao and Five Offerings, which are used for sacrificial offerings. The first rituals such as sacrifices were performed by officials such as the academic officer, and then the new students such as Zhu Ping'an lined up to kowtow to the throne of the most holy teacher Confucius, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing nine times. Everyone's expressions were solemn, but also faintly excited. From then on, their identities were completely different.
After paying homage to Confucius, Zhu Ping'an felt his knees aching. He couldn't help but miss the modern era of equality and democracy where kneeling was not required.
After paying homage to Confucius, only the hairpin banquet was left, and the academic officials held a banquet to entertain the new students. Zhu Ping'an rushed to the banquet site with everyone. The hairpin banquet was still held in Jiangnan Gongyuan. The yamen was very efficient. By the time Zhu Ping'an and others returned to Jiangnan Gongyuan after visiting Confucius, the banquet had already been arranged.
Because of the large number of people, the Hairpin Banquet was an open-air feast, placed in an open space in Jiangnan Gongyuan.
There is a dazzling array of wine, meat and delicious food, which makes people want to eat. (To be continued.)
