Huang Zicheng vomited blood and fell to the ground. There was no doubt about the outcome of this debate. The Fifth Highness Zhu Su, who was considered "uneducated and unskilled" and "unworthy of being a teacher", not only completely refuted his opponents, but also detonated an ideological bomb among a small number of Confucian scholars.
What is Confucianism? Who is a Confucian? We read the classics every day and study hard in a cold window. Are the principles we learn the true path of Confucianism?
Is Huang Zicheng, who vomited blood and fell to the ground, a Confucian, or is the fifth prince who spoke upright and sternly a Confucian?
Or...Zhu Zi Chengzi, who summed up the principles of Neo-Confucianism eloquently...is he a Confucian?
It is true that most Confucian scholars did not actually care about the core part of the debate. They were simply saddened by the defeat of Huang Zicheng on their side and glared at Zhu Su. But looking at the thoughtful look of a small number of people, Zhu Su was pleased enough.
The real good show is still behind the scenes with my old man.
As long as we successfully tear a small hole today and completely abandon Neo-Confucianism in future imperial examination questions, we will not have to worry about Neo-Confucianism collapsing on the soil of the Ming Dynasty.
Among the many Confucian scholars present, how many of them are serious about studying knowledge and respecting Zhu Xi, rather than trying to become an official by relying on the golden list of knowledge in the book?
joke.
Huang Zicheng was carried down by some of his fellow students. It seemed that he was going to a medical clinic. Those students, who were carrying the unconscious Huang Zicheng, did not dare to say a word on behalf of this fellow countryman, or even look at Zhu Su.
There was only deathly silence left in the field. No Confucian scholar came up with new arguments to refute Zhu Su.
After a long silence, Zhou Rugui, one of the three elders of Pingyang, stood up in person and said: "It seems that the fifth prince has indeed learned a little bit about my Confucianism. But in the end, what he learned is not perfect. You need to know that Zhu Xi's words are profound and profound, not just a mere thought." It can be summed up in a few words. Your Highness cannot understand the truth, so how can you despise it?"
"Is it right to be broad and profound?" Zhu Su was not afraid when he saw the great scholar going into battle shirtless, and said bluntly: "If that's the case, which of the principles I gave to my disciple Fang Xiaoru before this sacrifice is not profound and profound?"
Zhou Rugui was stunned. The great Confucian named Shi Shande stood up and said: "Your Majesty, the Fifth Highness, it is different after all. What Zhu Zi said is the law of heaven. The so-called 'Before there was heaven and earth, after all, it is just a law'. Where the law of heaven lies, Can An ignore it?"
Another great scholar, Zheng Boxuan, also stood up and said: "Shan, the so-called 'the world is just one principle, so it can be applied to all places.'" Neo-Confucianism is the way of studying the principles of heaven, which is different from other ways. Just look at the Analects, which sentence says this Isn’t it the word ‘reason’? It’s just that Confucianism was just beginning at the time of Confucius and he couldn’t speak out.”
"In the second period, Zhuzi continued the past and understood the principles of heaven. This is exactly what he inherited from Confucius and Saints and carried forward Confucianism."
The three elders of Pingyang all came out and began to explain the so-called "natural principles". What "comes from Taixu, it has the name of Heaven; it transforms from Qi, it has the name of Tao", and what "every word and every move of the sage is in accordance with the laws of nature"...
Quoting scriptures in a bunch of unintelligible languages, Zhu Su felt dizzy.
"I understand what the three of you said." Zhu Su took a chance for them to breathe and quickly interrupted the three old scholars. If they were allowed to continue talking, they would probably have to talk for another three days and three nights. "I have a question: The three of them keep saying the way of heaven and the principles of heaven, and they are absolutely certain. Did they hear the way of heaven preaching with their own eyes, or did they see the principles of heaven engraved in the sky?"
"A child cannot be taught." Zhou Rugui sneered. "What the way of heaven is, very few people can know! Only by relying on sages and being dedicated to understanding can we get a glimpse of it..."
The three old men began to chatter again. All in all, it means the same thing: Heavenly principles are the only principles given by God to the world, and only sages can realize the "natural principles" by themselves. Even if ordinary people go through hardships and expend hard work, they still cannot realize it. They can only listen to the words of sages and imitate their actions, so that their sight, hearing, words and actions can be in line with the "natural principles".
Cheng Zhu is so great, who are you, Zhu Su? Dare to question Cheng Zhu and make false claims about heaven’s principles?
No matter in any era, the most difficult thing to reason with is such a pretentious old man, who is as smelly and hard as a stone in a latrine. Moreover, what Zhu Su wanted to deal with was closely related to their own status and interests, so they naturally would not give Zhu Su a chance to shake Neo-Confucianism.
But Zhu Su also thought about how they would deal with him. After all, Master Zhu's most famous point of view is "preserve the principles of nature and destroy human desires." As long as the word "natural principle" is used, no matter how we argue, this debate will not be able to explain the reason.
You talk about logic, but others directly use metaphysical concepts. What stands out is that you talk about yours and I talk about mine. The two are not on the same track. How can you beat me?
"Fortunately, I have foresighted it." Zhu Su sneered in his heart and said loudly: "In this way, the three of them have never seen the principles of heaven. They are just copying cats and tigers, repeating what is said, and imitating Master Zhu. "
"But how can you be sure that Master Zhu has seen the principles of heaven? The principles of heaven stated in his book must be without error?"
"Discourteous!" "Arrogant!" "Offensive to the sages!" The three elders of Pingyang were furious, pointing at Zhu Su and angrily reprimanding him.
If he hadn't been pulled by Zhan Tong and Lu Ben and several court officials, looking at their appearance, he would have almost imitated Confucius in killing Shaozhengmao and smashed Zhu Laowu's dog's head with his cane.
Therefore, Confucianism was able to flourish thanks to the fact that Shaozhengmao did not have a very deep background during the Spring and Autumn Period. If Shaozhengmao was at least a prince like Zhu Su, Confucius couldn't say it or kill him, so he could only sit back and watch Confucianism being refuted, students attracted, and then directly declined.
"Why should you be so anxious, you three? This wine offering is just to express the doubts in your heart." Zhu Su said. "The principles of heaven mentioned by the three are invisible and intangible, and Zhu Xi has been dead for a hundred years. If we only rely on words and arguments, when will we be able to distinguish them clearly?"
"However, there is a quick way to sacrifice wine, which can directly understand the principles of heaven." Zhu Su said bluntly, and everyone in the audience was stunned when they heard this.
Even the three elders of Pingyang forgot to scold them for a moment, what? The way to understand the truth of heaven? Cheng Zhuhaohao wrote thousands of words, but he couldn't clearly describe what the law of heaven is. Can you, a little kid who has not reached the crown, understand?
"It's easy to say." Facing the curious eyes of many Confucian scholars in the audience, Zhu Su's lips showed a meaningful smile: "As the saying goes, hearing is false, seeing is believing."
"If you want to know whether there is any heavenly principle, don't you just go to heaven and take a look?"
With that said, he turned to the three elders of Pingyang.
"Therefore, I would like to invite three old men to go to heaven!"
(End of chapter)
