roccoschili Chapter 226 Jingxiang Pavilion
Chapter 226 Jingxiang Pavilion
During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the Lianghuai Salt Transport Envoy (official in charge of transportation) Zhu Ziying (also known as Zhu Xiaochun, also known as Ziying, also known as Si Tang, also known as Hai Yu, known as "Ji Beard", was from Donghai - today's Tancheng, Shandong Province. Qing Dynasty Officials, poets, calligraphers and painters.) told a story.
At that time, Zhu Ziying was still serving as the prefect of Tai'an in Shandong.
It is said that one day, a scholar came to Mount Tai for a visit. When he walked deep into the mountain, he suddenly heard the voice of someone speaking from the stone wall of the mountain forest: "Where is this fragrance of scriptures? Could it be someone reincarnated?" come yet?"
While the scholar was in shock and doubt, he heard a loud "rumbling" sound, and the stone wall cracked from the middle.
A palace and pavilion appeared in the crack of the stone, all decorated with beautiful purple shell jade, standing on the top of the mountain.
After a while, an old Confucian scholar, wearing a crown on his head and a belt around his waist, came down from the pavilion to greet him.
The scholar was shocked and asked the old scholar: "Where is this place?"
The old Confucian replied: "This is Jingxiang Pavilion."
The scholar asked again: "Does this Jingxiang Pavilion have any profound meaning? Or does it have a long history?"
The old Confucian smiled and replied: "This is a long story. Please sit down and listen to me."
The scholar found a stone to sit on and said, "I would like to hear the details!"
The old Confucian also sat down and talked eloquently: "In the past, Confucius, the sage, revised the scriptures and preached for thousands of years. The essence of various scriptures and the profound philosophy contained in the subtle words were passed down from generation to generation.
The great Confucian scholars of the Han Dynasty were not far from ancient times, so their interpretations and annotations could generally follow the original intention of the sages; moreover, the customs at that time were simple and simple, and had not yet become cold, nor did they have the habit of cultivating party members and competing for fame and wealth. Each inherits the teacher's teachings and truly traces the origins of knowledge.
When it was passed down to the Tang Dynasty, these gentle customs handed down from ancient times remained unchanged.
In the Northern Song Dynasty, the essence was extracted and engraved into thirteen volumes of annotations, all of which were praised by the sages.
Later, the Confucian scholars were worried that the new doctrines would become more and more prosperous and the Confucian classics would gradually be lost, so they built this "Jingxiang Pavilion" to store them.
In the middle of the attic, the first editions are displayed, all in boxes made of five-color jade. This is to show respect for the legacy of the sages.
Attached is a book engraved by officials from past dynasties and placed in a box made of white jade. This is to highlight the merits of emperors of various dynasties and generations in promoting the holy religion. These books are placed on the south side of the attic.
Placed on the left and right sides are privately-engraved books. When every one of their books is printed, the most beautifully printed ones must be selected and stored in this attic in chronological order. These versions are packed in boxes made of sapphire to reward those who study hard in ancient books. These books are placed on the east and west sides.
All the scriptures in this attic have labels made of coral, and locks and keys made of gold.
In the east and west wing rooms, there are small tables made of agarwood and sandalwood, and cushions made of brocade.
All the great Confucian gods come to inspect once a year. After they arrived, they sat together in the attic and discussed it.
In the three rows of houses at the back, before the Tang Dynasty, books such as those by the great Confucian scholars expounding the principles of the classics were arranged one by one and stored in separate warehouses.
In addition, even for people whose works are as tall as their height and whose reputation and honor exceed those of contemporary people, their works are only allowed to be collected by themselves. Even if they are living among the people or even scattered in the mountains, they are not allowed to enter this place. One step into the attic. This is the will of the sages.
Every word and sentence in these scriptures will emit a strong fragrance at midnight and noon, so this pavilion is named "Jingxiang Pavilion".
The reason why these scriptures emit fragrance is because the one element rotates and the two qi blend. Yin energy arises at noon, while Yang energy arises at midnight. The saint's heart is connected with heaven and earth.
The great Confucians of the past dynasties have expounded the principles of the saints. The subtle and profound principles are also connected with heaven and earth, so they can also interact with heaven and earth.
However, the aroma of the scriptures can only be smelled by those who can inherit this knowledge, but not others.
Among the Confucian scholars in the world, some have studied and looked up to these thirteen scriptures day and night for a lifetime; some have deeply misunderstood, found faults, and criticized them in every possible way, all because of their different personalities and knowledge. "
The scholar now had a general understanding of the "Jingxiang Pavilion", but he still didn't know something, so he asked: "Why did you ask where else the fragrance of scriptures is when I first arrived here? And how can you Do you know that I was reincarnated?"
The old Confucian smiled and said: "My husband, four generations ago, worked as an engraver. He once carved half of "Zhou Rites" by hand. The fragrance on his body is still there, so as soon as you approach, I know you are coming."
With that said, the old Confucian led the scholar into the Jingxiang Pavilion, guided him around the pavilion rooms, and entertained him with refreshments and fruits.
Before leaving, the old Confucian said to the scholar: "You must cherish self-love, this place is not easy to come to."
After the scholar walked out of the Jingxiang Pavilion, he looked back and saw that the palaces and pavilions had disappeared. Only the peaks reaching into the sky, the deep trees, and no trace of human beings could be seen.
Ji Xiaolan's note: This incident is absurd and bizarre. It is probably a fable made up by those who admired Confucian classics in the Han Dynasty.
The Confucian scholars of the Han Dynasty specialized in interpreting the words and sentences of ancient books, while the Confucian scholars of the Song Dynasty focused on elucidating the meaning of the classics.
It seems that Chinese studies are rough and Song studies are essential. However, if you don’t understand the meaning of the words in the ancient books, how can you understand the principles?
To denigrate and reject Sinology in general and treat it like dirt is a bit like turning back to criticize the wheel without spokes when the magnificent cart has been built; it is also like burning the precious treasure just after getting through the maze. raft. Therefore, this is the reason why many people attacked Song Confucianism.
Therefore, I said in the "Sikuquanshu·Summary of Poetry": "Song Confucianism attacked Han Confucianism not for the purpose of discussing and explaining Confucian classics, but because they deliberately wanted to outdo Han Confucianism; later generations attacked Song Confucianism Confucianism, not because of discussing and explaining Confucian classics, but because I feel aggrieved that Song Confucianism slandered Han Confucianism."
Wei Suzhou (namely Wei Yingwu, courtesy name Yibo, known as "Weisuzhou" in the world, etc., a native of Duling, Jingzhao - today's Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province. Official and poet of the Tang Dynasty) has a poem that says:
"The nature of water comes from the calmness of clouds,
There is also silence in the stone;
How do two things excite each other?
The thunder turned and the mountains were shocked. "
That's what he meant.
To be fair, the "Book of Changes" began to change the old statement from Wang Bi, which was the germ of Confucianism in the Song Dynasty, so Song Confucianism did not attack him.
The meaning of the words in "The Classic of Filial Piety" is very obvious. What the Song Confucians argued about was only the difference between the modern text and the ancient text, and had nothing to do with the main meaning. Therefore, it can be put aside for the time being and not discussed.
As for the various commentaries on "Shangshu", "Three Rites", "Three Biography", "Mao Shi", and "Erya", they are all based on ancient meanings, which is definitely not what Song Confucians could do.
As for "The Analects of Confucius" and "Mencius", the Confucian scholars of the Song Dynasty devoted their whole life to studying every word and every sentence, and the achievements they achieved were definitely not comparable to those of the Confucian scholars of the Han Dynasty.
Generally speaking, Han Confucianism valued the teachings of teachers, and all knowledge had its source; Song Confucianism, on the other hand, valued the inner perception, and it was easier to explore and study in depth.
Han Confucians were sometimes too attached to old texts and believed too much in the inheritance of their teachers; Song Confucians sometimes relied solely on subjective assumptions and often dared to transform scriptures and create new concepts.
In fact, the pros and cons of both sides are almost evenly matched.
It's just that with the knowledge of Han Confucianism, if you don't read and don't refer to ancient meanings, you won't be able to say anything meaningful. But with the knowledge of Song Confucianism, everyone can talk eloquently.
This is like bluegrass and mugwort growing together. There are indeed some things that are unsatisfactory. This is why Song Xue was ridiculed and criticized.
From this point of view, the fictitious story mentioned above did not arise without reason.