"Establishing a speech for the country?" Song Lian and Liu Bowen looked at each other, and Liu Bowen said: "Your Highness has shocked the world by saying that Dajing Neo-Confucianism is a closed-door practice. It can be regarded as a speech..."
Zhu Su shook his head, "It's still far from enough."
"Although Neo-Confucianism is lifeless, it solidifies the thoughts of people all over the world. But when it comes to truth, it still has its role."
"That is to point out a way for people to govern the country. Only by 'preserving the principles of nature and destroying human desires' can we reach a world of great harmony. Although I think that the theory of natural principles can be discontinued, now that this road has been filled, Then it is necessary to name a new path for the people of the world."
"Otherwise, when Neo-Confucianism is gone, people will be in panic, and if there is no more guidance, there will be people who are deceiving people by using the saint's classics out of context and making far-fetched interpretations. If it becomes a climate again, wouldn't it be that the wolf is driven out through the front door and the tiger comes in through the back door? "
When Song Lian heard this, his expression became serious. "I understand the meaning of this statement. Your Highness wants to preach the truth in the Imperial College to prevent others from confusing the public with evil words and causing our Confucian sect to go astray again."
"To be honest, I have also been looking for the true 'Confucianism' since your highness gave me advice. I am afraid there are quite a few great Confucians in the world who think the same as me."
"How difficult is it to find the road to truth? Even if you, Your Highness, rashly write a book and state it, you may not be able to convince the public without being refuted by the people in the world."
Zhu Su nodded to express his understanding. In fact, Song Lian said it lightly. Although Zhu Su refuted the "natural principles" foundation of Neo-Confucianism and completely threw Neo-Confucianism into the garbage heap of "distorting sages" and "taking quotes out of context", what is the meaning of it? It is Confucianism that truly echoes Confucius' original intention, and is still being debated fiercely in the academic world.
To put it bluntly, it's because Zhu Su is too young. After all, academic circles still look at seniority. Although he could completely destroy the foundation of Neo-Confucianism by defeating ten societies with one force, reshaping the direction of Confucianism is more difficult than simply destroying the old doctrine. If Zhu Su stood up at this time and declared that he had an idea that was Confucian orthodoxy, he would definitely be criticized by thousands of people.
"I, of course, know this. But in fact, I do not want to establish a new Confucianism, but I want to reiterate the aspirations of Confucius and remind many Confucian scholars of what Confucian scholars really want to do..." Zhu Sudao .
"Confucius's lifelong ambition?" Song Lian was slightly startled, and then asked with some disbelief: "Could it be that what His Highness is referring to is 'restraining oneself and restoring etiquette'?"
"Not bad." Zhu Su smiled while stroking his hands. "It's exactly 'denial of self and restoration of propriety'!"
In fact, Neo-Confucianism's so-called "preserve natural principles and destroy human desires" starts from the word "self-denial" of "restraining oneself and restoring rituals", exaggerating it and demonizing it hundreds of thousands of times, and then grandly declares it as its core idea. roll out. The prosperous experience of Neo-Confucianism is that if you don't learn it before, it will be useless. However, Zhu Su did not want to over-interpret the "self-denial" part again, but focused on the word "restore rites".
What kind of gift do you want? Naturally, it does not refer to simple etiquette and etiquette.
Rather, it refers to the system written by the Duke of Zhou that helped the Western Zhou Dynasty become a powerful country and laid the foundation for China, Zhou Rites!
"Your Highness wants to restore Zhou Li?" Liu Bowen frowned deeply. If it weren't for the fact that His Highness the Fifth Prince didn't look like a dull scholar who had lost his mind after reading, he couldn't help but look at Zhu Su like a fool. . However, he still dissuaded Zhu Su and said: "The Zhou Dynasty has been more than a thousand years ago. Even though the Zhou rites have made the Zhou Dynasty powerful, times have changed and circumstances have changed. If we insist on returning to the past, it will inevitably lead to chaos."
"Your Highness is a man of great talent and has the trust of His Majesty. You must not blindly promote the ancient times, which will cause our great Ming Dynasty to fall into internal strife for nothing."
"What Mr. Liu said is absolutely true." Zhu Su smiled back at Liu Bowen. As a time traveler, he naturally knows that forcing himself to return to ancient times will not end well. Zhu Yunwen was so smart and had learned from the past. How could he and his good nephew fall into the same big pit?
"What I am talking about is not to restore the form of Zhou rites, but to restore the system of Zhou rites. Have you two gentlemen ever thought about why Confucius wanted to 'restore rites'? It was just because he felt that Zhou rites were a method that would never be changed, and they were blind to it. Do you worship and admire it?”
Without waiting for the two people to answer, Zhu Su continued: "No, it is said that Confucianism sees nature. When we look at Master's behavior, we cannot just look at the surface."
"Confucius lived in the Spring and Autumn Period. At that time, the princes were divided, rituals collapsed, and music was ruined. The kings and scholar-bureaucrats of various countries either neglected to enjoy themselves or were fighting among themselves."
"The Master is ambitious and compassionate, so naturally he does not want to see the Xia's self-destruction. The so-called 'restoration of rites' is not the restoration of the Zhou rites themselves, but the restoration of the harmonious and prosperous Zhou Dynasty behind the Zhou rites. Prosperity!”
"At that time, the Duke of Zhou used the Zhou rites to enfeoff the Xia, and the princes were all vying to expand territory for the Chinese people. The Chinese people did not focus on enjoyment and internal fighting, but looked at one place and worked hard. One place envoy, this is what Confucius really admired behind the Zhou rites, and wanted to realize the prosperous age through 'denying oneself and restoring rites'!"
Song Lian was stunned. All the Xia were in harmony, expanding their territory... Was this the kind of China that Confucius wanted?
This statement is unheard of, and no one has even thought about it, but if you think about it carefully, whether it is the Zhou Rites, the Analects of Confucius, or even everything Confucius said, it can indeed be explained in this direction.
Encouraging people to be benevolent and righteous, cultivating their own morals, opposing civil strife, advocating the Zhou rites and the rule of the Three Dynasties, and even going to seek officials and recruiting disciples... all of this is to awaken the people of Xia to remember the feats of their ancestors, and to end the troubled times of the Spring and Autumn Period. , let Zhuxia join hands once again to realize the great rejuvenation of China!
"It is a pity that after the Qin and Han Dynasties, Confucianism gradually deviated. The powerful and prosperous Tang Dynasty did once or twice expand the territory, but throughout the three generations and after the Western Zhou Dynasty, they only fought among themselves and enjoyed themselves, guarding the rich foundation created by their ancestors. Since then, They recognize the heavenly dynasty and despise the land outside the Central Plains as a foreign land."
"But thousands of years ago, even the beautiful scenery of Jinling under our feet, wasn't it a barbarian?"
"It is precisely because our ancestors were not afraid of hardships and dangers and worked together as one to develop this place into an anointed place from generation to generation!"
“Throughout the past dynasties, even after China was unified, few knowledgeable people realized the legacy of the Confucius and the purpose of Zhouli. Instead, they used all their ingenuity on how to seize power, how to eliminate dissidents, and how to make a name for themselves... …This is the sorrow of Confucius, and it is also the sorrow of China!”
"Now that we, the Ming Dynasty, have reopened the world and unified the nine states, we should not be as short-sighted as the previous dynasties, indulging in enjoyment and complacency just because we have regained our ancestors' ancestral properties... What's the point of only fighting for the properties left by our ancestors?"
"Those who are capable should learn from their ancestors and open up a new world for future generations! I believe that we should awaken the scholars of the Ming Dynasty and let them look at the world again! Let them no longer think about fame. and internal friction, but to uphold the aspirations of Confucius and learn from the actions of the Three Dynasties and the Zhou Dynasty..."
"Put your ambition on restarting the Xia, opening up territory for future generations, and expanding the territory of China!"
"Until I spread the glory of China to every corner of the world!"
At this point, Song Lian was already extremely shocked. Your Highness actually has such ambitions in his heart!
He remembered his previous expectations for His Highness... At that time, he hoped that His Highness the Fifth, who was quite talented and learned, could assist Prince Zhu Biao just like Duke Zhou assisted King Wen, and become a wise king of the Ming Dynasty.
But now it seems that His Highness can not only become a wise king, but can even go a step further and become the second Duke of Zhou who truly leads China to further prosperity!
"Although I am old, if your Highness needs it, I will die for you!" Song Lian seemed to have seen the day when China became extremely powerful again. His whole person was shocked and burst into tears.
(End of chapter)
