The first and most important question among Zhao Kai's three questions is undoubtedly to ask the sky!
Because compared to Catholicism, Tianfang Sect, and Buddhism, what Confucianism lacks most is a supreme, great, and all-encompassing existence.
Because of the lack of this existence, it is difficult for Confucianism to answer the "ultimate question", to construct a cosmology and world view of its own, to exist independently of the bureaucratic system, and to promote its own teachings outside the Central Plains. It’s getting harder.
What's worse is that when Confucianism cannot answer the "ultimate question" and cannot propose its own view of the universe, other sects will take advantage of it. For example, Catholicism, Tianfang Sect, and Buddhism... Many famous Confucian scholars in history believed in Buddhism. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, when Western learning spread eastward, a group of Confucian scholars who believed in Catholicism appeared.
These great Confucian scholars themselves have the mission of educating the common people. Their status is equivalent to that of priests in Catholic culture, jurists in Tianfang culture, and eminent monks in Buddhist culture.
They themselves have believed in Buddha and Christ, so how can Confucianism fight against others?
As for the idea of using Buddha, Christ, and Allah to solve ultimate problems and construct a world view and cosmology, but at the same time maintaining Confucian cultural life and political concepts... it may be possible in China. After all, there is a problem of doing as the Romans do!
But once we leave the homeland where Chinese culture is deeply rooted, we get to a place where the Chinese and foreigners mix, and even the foreigners have the upper hand, and the Chinese are in the minority. It is very difficult for Confucianism without an upper-level cosmology and worldview to truly gain a foothold there. And if Confucianism cannot gain a foothold, it will be difficult for China to gain a real and lasting foothold.
In fact, Zhao Kai's main purpose of convening this Confucian conference was to come up with a Confucian "heaven".
The Confucian Congress is an organization that mainly exists to defend and promote Confucian principles of heaven!
Chen Dong, Yu Yunwen, Hu Yin, Xiao Buyan, Hu Xian, Liu Zihui and others are Zhao Kai's confidants and have long been involved in the construction of the Confucian theory of heaven. Among them, Hu Yin, Hu Xian, and Liu Zihui were masters of Neo-Confucianism and were proficient in various Confucian theories of heaven, heaven, and destiny.
Hearing Zhao Kai's question, Hu Yin immediately answered: "Guan Jia, Heaven, is the origin of all things. Any words used to describe the origin of all things, such as heaven, Qi, Tao, Li, Tianli, Heavenly Way, Tai Chi Wait, actually they all have the same meaning. That is, everything in the heaven, earth and universe has an origin, and all the origins come together to be the origin of everything."
Zhao Kai frowned slightly, it sounded a bit fantasy!
It seems that the Heavenly Father Emperor who is still the Hong leader is easier for people to accept.
However, this set of theories about the origin of heaven and earth also has obvious advantages compared to Hong Jiaozhu's theory that the Heavenly Father and Emperor descended to earth. It is not easy to penetrate... This matter involves the origin of the universe. If we can really understand it completely, then He almost became a god.
Hu Yin's cousin Hu Xian saw Zhao Kai frowning and hurriedly helped his cousin explain: "Guan family, because this law of heaven is the origin of all things, we Confucians have the theory of studying things to achieve knowledge... Pass If you examine one thing, you can understand one principle. If you examine all things, you can understand the principles of heaven."
This sounds a bit like Scientology... As scientific research deepens, more and more will be known, and in the end human civilization will become a god-level civilization.
Liu Zihui, who also taught Zhu Xi in history, continued what Hu Xian said, twirling his beard and said: "Guan Jia, heaven must exist. No matter what it is called, it exists after all. No Confucian scholar in the world will criticize heaven. There is no doubt about it. But whether there is a connection between heaven and man is controversial.
For example, Xunzi's "Treatise on Heaven" says: Heaven's behavior is constant, and it will not exist for Yao, nor will it perish for Jie. Lao Tzu also said: Heaven and earth are unkind and regard all things as rotting dogs..."
Confucianism's view of heaven is generally divided into two lines: acknowledging the existence of destiny and opposing the existence of destiny.
Confucian scholars who acknowledge the destiny of heaven believe that heaven has a will, that there is a spiritual connection between heaven and man, and that heaven will cause disasters because of the actions of people, especially human kings, etc.
Confucians who do not recognize the destiny of heaven are represented by Xunzi, who believe that the way of heaven has no will but is reasonable. He also believed that people do not have to follow the non-existent will of heaven, but they can study the laws of heaven and discover the laws for their own use.
I have to say that the level of intellectuals during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period was much higher than that of the Confucian scholars of later generations...
Zhao Kai could only sigh when he thought of this, and then asked the Confucian scholars in front of him, "Tell me the truth, do you believe in destiny, or do you believe that heaven and earth are unkind?"
This question is difficult to answer!
Because Zhao Kai is an emperor after all... Isn't it a bit treasonous to say in front of an emperor that he has no destiny?
"Officials and ministers believe that there is destiny!" Xiao Buyan was the first to answer, "And there must be destiny, otherwise how can Confucianism defeat Buddha?"
After all, this guy is from the Liao Dynasty, and he is very aware of the dangers of the spread of Buddhism... even though he himself burns incense and worships Buddha!
Yu Yunwen nodded and agreed: "I also believe that there is destiny... If there is no destiny, how can our Confucianism educate people's hearts? How can we persuade people to do good? Why can we prevent people from doing evil? How can we preach and protect the law?"
Destiny is fighting power!
Xunzi's view of "anti-Destiny" may be correct, but without the banner of Destiny, Confucianism will be unable to unite people's hearts, let alone fight against other factions.
Liu Zihui twirled his beard and said: "Officials, of course, have destiny. We Confucians pay attention to the study of things to gain knowledge, just to better understand the destiny, comply with it, and do the right thing for heaven...not to go against heaven!" "
Zhao Kai thought: This is very philosophical! In order to better protect Heaven, you have to use gunpowder, artillery, and flintlocks... These things are more useful than axes when you are fighting for Heaven!
Hu Yin said seriously: "I also think that there is destiny. The officials can reopen the Song Dynasty because of destiny! Isn't the current situation of the Song Dynasty due to destiny?"
Hu Xian nodded in agreement and said: "Ming Zhong's words are reasonable. It is precisely because the officials have the destiny to prevent a disaster in China... This is also the destiny of our Song Dynasty and our China!"
This is a great scholar! Zhao Kai stroked his beard and thought: This is the real Confucian! From now on, the daily affairs of the Confucian Conference can be left in the hands of the two brothers Hu Yin and Hu Xian.
He nodded with a smile and said: "Ming Zhong, Yuan Zhong, what you two said is very good, and it is exactly what I want. In fact, I don't believe in the destiny of heaven, and I also believe that the way of heaven is permanent, and it will not survive for Yao, nor will it perish for Jie. .....But now the reality is before us, this is God’s will and destiny!”
Zhao Kai has always believed that he has a destiny since time traveling. Otherwise, why would he have time traveling? This is the chosen one, the one with the destiny!
After he finished speaking, he suddenly saw Chen Dong, a scholar in the Imperial Academy, frowning as if he was thinking hard.
"Shaoyang," Zhao Kai asked with a smile, "What are you thinking about?"
"Oh," Chen Dong was startled, and then he reacted, "The official family, I am thinking that there are two theories of destiny and no destiny. It is difficult to distinguish clearly for a while. If we flaunt destiny, then it will be inevitable Some people will use Xunzi's "Lun Tian" to refute. Unless..."
He only said half of what he said, unless there was something bad behind it!
Zhao Kai shook his head hastily, and there was no one Chen Dong continued to talk about.
Then Zhao Kai smiled again and said: "Then let them prove it by studying things to achieve knowledge! Of course, we ourselves must also study things and understand principles. Since everyone believes that there are laws in heaven, and also thinks that we can understand things and understand principles... then We should prove whether there is destiny by exhausting all things in the world and exhausting the principles of the world."
There must be a driving force to understand things and reason!
And this matter cannot be driven by money alone, because there are many basic researches that cannot produce immediate economic benefits. But these studies are necessary for the progress and development of science!
Therefore, the spirit of pursuing truth, in this case, will become a huge driving force for the advancement of science and technology.
Many Western scientists and even clergymen engage in research that has nothing to do with economic interests.
The Christian church sometimes becomes a sponsor of scientific research, although the research it sponsors sometimes shakes the foundation of Christianity. But those Christian leaders don’t think so. They also believe in “excellent principles”—scientific discoveries will only prove, not deny, the existence of the Lord!
Because in their view, the Lord exists!
If they do not believe in the existence of the Lord, then how can they be bishops and popes?
Therefore, the relationship between religion and science is sometimes very complicated.
And Zhao Kai's current reform of Confucianism is not to change Confucianism from a school to a sect... because the Confucian principles and laws of heaven only exist, and there is no direct spiritual communication with a certain Confucian saint. .
In other words, it was not that the principles of heaven and the ways of heaven took the initiative to find Confucianism and gave Confucianism a sacred mission, but that Confucianism discovered the existence of principles and ways of heaven during the study of knowledge, and took the initiative to assume the mission of defending the principles and ways of heaven.
Therefore, Confucianism is still a school of thought, not a sect.
After thinking about the key, Zhao Kai looked at the Confucian scholars in front of him, considered it, and said with a smile: "I believe that everything in the world is based on the laws of heaven... From now on, heaven, Qi, Tao, and principles will There is no need to mention terms such as Tiandao, Tai Chi, etc., they are all called Tianli. Everything comes from the laws of Heaven, and Tianli has a destiny, which is the destiny of Heaven. We Confucians should keep the laws of Heaven, understand all things, understand the destiny of Heaven, and obey the laws of Heaven. Only by protecting the laws of heaven can one become a sage. Everyone, what do you think of this statement? Can you bring it to a Confucian conference?"
"Of course the theories of heavenly principles, destiny, and the investigation of things mentioned by the officials are correct, and there is no problem in bringing them to the Confucian conference." Hu Yin, the great scholar, thought for a while and said word by word, "But for ordinary people, As far as the people are concerned, the principles of heaven, destiny, and observing things are still too far away and are not conducive to education!!"
