In the early summer of the ninth year of Hongwu in the Song Dynasty, Qufu, the holy city of Confucianism, finally ushered in its highlight moment.
More than 200 famous Confucian scholars from all over the Song Dynasty (more than 100 of them came from Wu State) have gathered in this small county town, preparing to participate in the most important meeting in Confucian history - the first Confucianism Conference!
There is the first time, and of course there is the second, third, fourth... until the nth time.
No matter what the outcome of this first Confucian conference may be, this conference itself can be said to be the beginning of New Confucianism!
Yes, this is the beginning of New Confucianism!
When more than two hundred recognized Confucian elites from all over the Song Dynasty traveled thousands of miles to gather in the Confucian holy city to participate in a conference related to the future and destiny of Confucianism to discuss some major issues, this event itself meant Confucianism has entered a new era.
Because such a meeting can be held, it means that Confucianism has its own organization from now on.
This Confucian Conference itself is an organization. Although it is a loose organization, it is much stronger than no organization at all.
Today's Catholicism, Tianfang Sect, Buddhism, and Taoism are all organized, and Catholicism has churches. The Tianfang Sect still has a caliph and various conferences of religious jurists. Buddhism and Taoism have this sect and that sect.
Confucianism did not have such an organization, so it could only rely entirely on the imperial court.
Therefore, once Confucianism leaves the protection of the imperial court, it will become very weak and unable to fight against sects such as Catholicism, Tianfang Sect, and Buddhism.
In addition, all these sects have grassroots organizations for the public - various churches, Tianfang temples, temples, and Taoist temples.
So they can use these grassroots organizations to brainwash the working people at the bottom... or educate.
And what does Confucianism have?
We clamor for enlightenment every day, but what about the reality? Where can I go to get enlightened? Academy? School? But these only provide services to a few people.
The vast majority of people in the Song Dynasty were illiterate, so they must have never gone to school and had not been educated by Confucianism.
Therefore, the so-called enlightenment of Confucianism is actually aimed at the middle and upper class landlord class intellectuals!
And the landlord class intellectuals who were educated by Confucianism after the Song Dynasty cannot be beaten... It makes people anxious just thinking about it!
Therefore, it is completely necessary to hold the first Confucian Congress!
As the convener of this Confucian conference, Zhao Kai had already arrived in Qufu on the first day of April in the ninth year of Hongwu. However, he did not enter the small Qufu County. Instead, he stayed at the "Kong's Que" outside Qufu County. Libaowu".
The later Qufu County was built in the Ming Dynasty and included Yanshenggong Mansion, Confucius Temple, and Confucius Forest. In the Song Dynasty, these were all outside the city. Because important places such as the Gongfu, Confucius Temple, and Confucius Forest are outside the city, tall outer walls were built to prevent thieves and theft.
During Zhao Gou's rule during the Pseudo-Song Dynasty, the situation in Qufu became even more chaotic. In order to prevent rebels and bandits from coming to Confucius to fight, Kong Fan, who stayed in Qufu to take charge of the Confucius family affairs, also obtained Wanyan Yan's approval and went to the Confucius Mansion. A trench was dug outside the Confucius Palace, Confucius Temple, and Confucius Forest, and a wooden fence was built to surround the Confucius Mansion, Confucius Temple, and Confucius Forest, forming the Confucius Queli Fortress.
Zhao Kai himself, as well as the accompanying concubines, ministers, male and female Banzhi and others, now live in the Yanshenggong Mansion, which occupies a large area and has hundreds of houses.
The venue for the first Confucian Conference was chosen to be the Confucius Temple to the west of Yanshenggong Mansion.
On the fourth day of April in the ninth year of Hongwu, when the sky was still dark, 218 Confucian elites from all over the Song Dynasty and their two to three hundred disciples finished bathing and changing clothes. Under the guidance of the four clansmen of Kong, Yan, Meng and Zeng, they left Qufu County on foot and went to the Confucius Temple in Kong's Queli Fort.
When they entered the Confucius Temple, the sky was already bright.
In the square outside the Dacheng Hall of the Confucius Temple, more than 200 short tables and hundreds of futons have been placed at this time. There is a name tag on each table. The four clansmen of Kong, Yan, Meng, and Zeng who were responsible for guiding the way led every Confucian scholar and their disciples who came to attend the conference to the corresponding seats, then turned around and left, exiting the Dacheng Hall Square.
There were only four to five hundred thoughtful Confucians left in the square (218 Confucian elites and their disciples). No matter how slow their reaction was, these people had already vaguely felt that a new era had arrived.
But for these captive "cynics" like them, this era is really strange and dangerous, and it's simply overwhelming!
"The officials are here!" As the loud voice of the edict rang out, the group of thoughtful Confucian scholars all stood up in their seats and bowed respectfully, shouting "Long Live the Mountain". Then I heard the sound of footsteps and a rather loud voice: "Pingshen, Pingshen!"
Everyone straightened up and looked up furtively. I saw a burly man with a curly beard, wearing cloth clothes and a scarf, square shoes on his feet, and a long sword hanging from his waist, walking quickly out of the Dacheng Hall - this outfit was just like the Confucius portrait painted by Wu Daozi in the Dacheng Hall. Almost like Confucius!
And coming out of the Dacheng Hall together with this bearded man were eight other middle-aged Confucian scholars dressed in the same style. Among them was Hu Yin and Hu Hanlin who went south to meet the seven Confucian scholars from the southeast...
Obviously, this strong man with a beard is Zhao Kai, the official in the Song Dynasty who raised the "Three Questions" and initiated this Confucian conference.
Zhao Kai stood in front of a short table placed under the eaves of Dacheng Hall. Eight other middle-aged Confucian scholars stood on his left and right, each with a short table in front of them.
Zhao Kai said sternly: "Today, I and you all will meet in front of Confucius to discuss important Confucian affairs. There are only Confucians, but no rulers or ministers. Therefore, you and I can both know that we can talk about everything, and there is no limit to what we can say. Sin. Now, let us bow to the tablet of the Most Holy King Wenxuan first, and then hold the Confucianism Conference!"
After saying that, Zhao Kai turned around and faced Dacheng Hall.
Among the eight Confucian scholars who came out with Zhao Kai was Yanshenggong Kong Jie. He opened his throat and shouted: "Bow the most holy King Wenxuan! One bow...two bows... .Three obeisances! End of ceremony!”
After paying three obeisances, Zhao Kai turned around and looked at a group of unarmed Confucian scholars in loose clothes and tall hats below. He paused and said, "Everyone, please take a seat!"
After saying that, he was the first to kneel down on a futon behind the desk in a grand manner.
The Confucian scholars below were not polite and took their seats, except Yanshenggong Kong Jie.
Zhao Kai nodded to Kong Jie, and Kong Jie said loudly again: "In today's meeting, only Confucian scholars who are officially attending the meeting can speak. Confucian scholars other than officials must raise their hands before speaking, and they can only speak after being called by my lord. .....The matters discussed in today’s meeting have been written on the scroll in front of you.”
The conference must follow the rules of the conference, and you can’t get into a quarrel with everyone!
After announcing the rules of procedure, Kong Jie bowed to Zhao Kai again before kneeling down on his futon.
The first Confucian Congress has officially begun.
Including Zhao Kai, every Confucian scholar's desk had, in addition to their name tags, the Four Treasures of the Study, and an unfolded scroll with the content to be discussed today written on it.
Today we will not discuss "Zhao Kai's Three Questions". Instead, Zhao Kai will answer the questions raised by Geng Nanzhong and Lu Benzhong.
In other words, will there be imperial examinations in the Song Dynasty in the future?
What is the imperial examination?
How much does it cost?
Do we still need scholar-bureaucrats who have read poetry and books?
Should we abandon Confucianism and use Legalism instead? No longer use benevolence, but only use the art of king and domination?
Five questions, very sharp... And they were asked by Confucians and answered by emperors!
There seems to be something wrong with this matter...
However, Zhao Kai, a "non-traditional" emperor, did not feel there was anything wrong with making things clear, nor did he feel that issues such as the imperial examination and the line of governance could not be discussed openly.
So he pretended to pick up the scroll in front of him, took a look at it, and then started to answer the questions.
"The imperial examinations of the Song Dynasty will definitely still be held!" Zhao Kai said, "But what is the purpose of the imperial examinations? It is to collect materials for the country! Therefore, the focus of the imperial examinations in the future is no longer Confucian classics, but real talents and practical learning... ...That is, skills that are useful in governing the country, managing finances, using troops, and diplomacy are what the imperial examination will test."
Hearing this, the hearts of the Confucian scholars present sank!
You can’t actually learn it!
For many years in the past, the imperial examinations were mainly based on moral articles and did not test any practical knowledge, so people stopped studying...
Zhao Kai went on to say: "Everyone should know that the reason why Confucianism can be used by emperors and become the only prominent school is not because of the Confucian classics, but because it is useful!"
Confucianism gives people the impression that it is relatively weak...but in fact, before Confucianism can dominate, it must also educate useful scholars. Therefore, Confucianism, Legalism, Military strategism, etc. are not actually distinct. The mainstream at that time was to be eclectic and learn from the strengths of many schools of thought.
For example, Xunzi, the teacher of Li Si and Han Feizi, was a great Confucian. He absorbed Legalist theory and developed Confucianism at the same time. They not only respect the king's way, but also seek hegemony; they not only respect etiquette and justice, but also respect the rule of law.
Starting from the Song Dynasty, the selection of scholars no longer focused on practicality, but focused on moral articles, and regarded the imperial examination as a ladder for poor families to rise... It is a good thing for poor families to have an upward path, but they cannot ignore the basics and lower the requirements!
If you don't take out the taxi, you can't do anything, and you can't defeat the barbarians around you, so that won't work either!
Zhao Kai went on to say: "As for the number of scholars...of course there won't be many, because national scholars are rare. How can there be hundreds of people in one subject? So from now on, there will be a major competition every three years, and the number of scholars will be determined." , will be capped at fifty people.
However, the imperial examination competition is only one of the many methods used by the court to select materials. If you fail to pass the Jinshi examination, there will be other ways out.
As for whether to use Confucianism, benevolence or kingship... I think being useful is the key! The useless Confucianism and benevolence are not as useful as the useful Law and King Ba! "
