pappabearbooks #332 - An ancient sage recognized by hundreds of schools of thought! He has opened up a smooth path
#332 - An ancient sage recognized by hundreds of schools of thought! He has opened up a smooth path
Today's Confucianism is, in itself, a rather complex melting pot.
The internal divisions are so great that there is even talk of the Eight Schools of Confucianism.
However, in the Little Sage Village, or rather, in the Jixia Academy and the State of Qi, which once made Confucianism famous, the orthodoxy of Confucianism is actually quite complex.
To reform the system by invoking antiquity—this is the approach of future Confucian disciples who constantly quote Confucius. But in the present, the Confucians truly revere the Sage Yuan, the Duke of Zhou.
From Confucius onward, after the split in Confucianism, Mencius and Xunzi were both typical examples of those who started their own branches within Confucianism. Although they wore the skin of Confucianism, their internal thoughts were very different from the original Confucianism of Confucius.
Looking at the disciples taught by Xunzi, almost all of them turned to the path of Legalism. It is not difficult to judge that the doctrine of 'human nature is inherently evil' had a great impact on the fundamentalism of Confucianism.
The theory of 'human nature is inherently good' is actually the most suitable for Confucianism, because it can directly deduce the core of Confucian benevolence. On the contrary, the doctrine of 'human nature is inherently evil' undermines the core of benevolence.
This is also why Xunzi is not well-received in Confucianism, and this dislike has continued into the future.
And Luo Fu's doctrines are even more displeasing to the fundamentalists of Confucianism.
Confucians mostly prefer metaphysical arguments and like to talk about the 'sage emperor ruling by non-action'.
What about Luo Fu's doctrines? Although he doesn't directly shake the core of Confucian benevolence with a 'human nature is inherently evil' like Xunzi, to some extent, Luo Fu's doctrines have an even greater impact on Confucianism because he abandons moral cover-ups and directly offers scholars of the world another feasible path to achieving peace, from a Marxist-Leninist perspective of interests.
This ideal of achieving peace is almost universally yearned for, not just by Confucianism.
For the various schools of thought, and even the powerful nobles of various countries, Luo Fu's doctrines are very attractive. Moreover, because he abandons the origin theory of good and evil, his doctrines are, to some extent, more acceptable to the powerful nobles.
The powerful nobles certainly do not like to be judged by good and evil, so they naturally prefer Luo Fu's views on good and evil.
So-called good and evil are inherently products of nurture.
However, after setting aside these controversial arguments, Luo Fu's Three Ages theory for achieving peace truly outlines an ideal for realizing a prosperous and peaceful world.
And the Confucian-Daoist system created by Luo Fu.
The extent to which it is rejected is one of the smallest branches within Confucianism.
The 'past sages' encompass all the wise men of the various schools of thought. This is also why Luo Fu, as a Confucian disciple, receives the least amount of rejection.
However, this also has to do with the fact that Luo Fu himself is not very popular in Confucianism.
But no matter what, as long as one recognizes Luo Fu's doctrines and ideas on a psychological level, it is like going to a temple to worship gods. And for Luo Fu's Confucian-Daoist system, it is like offering Luo Fu a not-so-pure faith.
Luo Fu's Confucian-Daoist system, of course, also has certain requirements. If divided by the degree of faith of the believers in gods.
Casual believers will definitely not receive feedback from the Holy Domain. Only shallow believers can rely on their own firm will to receive some feedback from the Holy Domain. The more obsessed and firm one is with Luo Fu's doctrines, the more feedback one can receive from the Holy Domain.
Thus, even one's strength can rise accordingly.
These threads, spanning the void, like silk threads, connect to Luo Fu from scholars, nobles, and others from all directions.
It is a symbol of integration into Luo Fu's system.
And soon, the first ninth-rank expert, like a shallow believer, was born.
Even this ninth-rank expert was not far from where Luo Fu was, right in Xinzheng City. He was even someone Luo Fu had met before.
Of course, it was definitely not Han Fei, the great synthesizer of Legalism, but Zhang Liang, one of the Three Heroes of Little Sage Village in the future.
That's right.
The first person who needed Luo Fu to give feedback was actually the future Strategist Saint, Zhang Liang.
It's a pity that after Luo Fu confirmed Zhang Liang's identity, he quickly realized that Zhang Liang could not truly stand with him.
Perhaps, because of Luo Fu's academic reasons, Zhang Liang would not abandon policies based on personal feelings, and might even follow Luo Fu's doctrines to rebuild the State of Han. But in terms of their positions, Zhang Liang could never become a colleague of Luo Fu's.
Luo Fu's Confucian-Daoism is true idealism, although it is wrapped in the skin of Confucianism, it contains the core of Marxism-Leninism.
But it is 100% idealistic.
Zhang Liang's inner obsession with the State of Han meant that he could not stand with Luo Fu because of academics.
In the room, Luo Fu, who had just completed the establishment of Confucian-Daoism, was given such a slap in the face by reality, and he looked faintly in the direction of Zhang Liang.
At this moment, in the elegant room of Zilan House, he was discussing Luo Fu's academics with Han Fei.
Zhang Liang's expression suddenly changed.
Han Fei said in confusion: "Zifang? What's wrong with you..."
"Ninth Prince, have you not felt that there seems to be an extremely strong and vast world between heaven and earth?" Zhang Liang's tone was full of excitement.
Han Fei became even more puzzled.
As a disciple of Xunzi, even though he had jumped from Confucianism to Legalism because of Xunzi's doctrines, and even became the great synthesizer of Legalism.
But Han Fei still knew that the so-called extremely strong and vast was originally the Righteous Qi of Mencius.
Yes.
In Confucianism, there is martial arts to cultivate Righteous Qi.
And the true Qi cultivated is indeed, as Mencius said, vast and upright.
But what is the extremely strong and vast world?
Han Fei looked at Zhang Liang with a puzzled look and said, "Zifang, you haven't comprehended the cultivation of Righteous Qi, have you?"
Zhang Liang became even more excited and said, "Ninth Prince, haven't you really felt it? That is an extremely strong and vast world, Righteous Qi, filling the heaven and earth, but... but this world seems to be very far away from me, I..."
With a slight pause, Zhang Liang seemed to have realized something in the dark, and suddenly stretched out his hand.
In the next moment, he actually burst out with Righteous Qi that Han Fei could hardly believe.
Little Sage Village is the holy land of Confucianism. When Han Fei was studying in Confucianism, he had a lot of contact with those disciples who had cultivated Righteous Qi.
Even on those disciples who had cultivated Righteous Qi for many years, Han Fei had not felt the pure Righteous Qi like Zhang Liang at this moment.
This time it was Han Fei's turn to be stunned.
Although Zhang Liang himself knew martial arts, it was only a little trick passed down from the Zhang family, but now, the Righteous Qi emanating from him, even Han Fei could not believe it.
Such an undisguised release of his own Righteous Qi naturally quickly attracted Wei Zhuang's attention.
Seeing that the owner of this Righteous Qi was actually Zhang Liang, Wei Zhuang, who hurried over, looked at Han Fei with some doubts and said, "This is...?"
Han Fei shook his head and smiled bitterly: "I don't know either. Zifang suddenly asked me if I felt an extremely strong and vast world, and then... then it became like this."
Wei Zhuang was confused.
What extremely strong and vast world?
But soon, Wei Zhuang reacted.
It was really that the special power on Zhang Liang at this moment was too obvious.
Even before this, Wei Zhuang had never felt this power, but as a successor of the Guiguzi's strategist, he had of course read the classic works of the various schools.
Among them, Mencius's 'I am good at cultivating my Righteous Qi' has almost become one of the symbols of Confucianism.
Righteous Qi is upright and just, which is perfectly in line with the power shown by Zhang Liang at this moment.
It's not that Wei Zhuang has not been in contact with Confucian disciples, and Confucianism really has a heritage of Righteous Qi.
But in the final analysis, Confucian Righteous Qi is just a method of martial arts training, and there is no difference between the strategist, Mo family, Taoist family, and so on.
But now, the so-called special Righteous Qi displayed by Zhang Liang at this moment really made Wei Zhuang a little unable to understand.
That is a power that seems to be implemented from the depths of the soul, down to the rivers and mountains, up to the sun and stars, filling the space between heaven and earth, as if it has existed forever, but before Zhang Liang, no one has been able to feel the emergence of this power, nor can it lead out this power.
"Extremely strong and vast world?" A strong look of surprise flashed in Wei Zhuang's eyes, and he said, "I didn't expect Zifang to have such an opportunity. He has realized the Tao that no one has ever had before, but why is it Confucian Righteous Qi?"
This is what Wei Zhuang is puzzled about.
You must know that the Zhang family of Han has been serving Han for generations. They have dabbled in the classics of various schools, but it is definitely impossible to say that they really belong to that one.
After all, for Zhang Liang's family, the various schools of thought are more about harboring the intention of using them.
But talent is the key to everything, and if it is not usable, it will be ruthlessly abandoned.
But now, Zhang Liang has become a different kind. From the Righteous Qi he is showing at this moment, even in Confucianism, Zhang Liang is enough to become a saint.
Han Fei frowned and said, "I'm afraid it's not that simple."
Glancing at Zhang Liang, who was immersed in Righteous Qi. Wei Zhuang said in surprise: "Why do you say that?"
"Zifang is probably not enlightened by himself, but taught by someone." Han Fei said, walking to the window, opening the window, and looking towards the direction of Luo Fu's residence.
Wei Zhuang's heart suddenly froze, and he blurted out: "You mean... all this is... is done by that Mr. Luo Zi?"
"Although I also know that this is incredible, but besides Mr. Luo Zi, I don't think there will be anyone else." Han Fei said quietly.
It's not that Han Fei looks down on Zhang Liang, it's really that such a thing as self-enlightenment is not something that can be enlightened in an instant with an understanding.
That is the real timing, location, people, and lack of one is indispensable. Even, it requires divine help.
Of course, this so-called divine help does not mean that the gods really appear to help, but refers to the flash of inspiration that is enlightened. At the same time, it is also the explosion of one's own wisdom and knowledge after sufficient accumulation.
Under such harsh conditions, very few among the Hundred Schools of Thought have been able to achieve this level so far.
And Zhang Liang had shown no signs of it before, only suddenly sensing a so-called world of supreme yang and greatness. Then, not to mention where this world came from.
Just the topic that he and Zhang Liang had been discussing just now made Han Fei firmly believe that the instigator of everything must be Luo Fu.
Because just when Zhang Liang sensed that so-called world of supreme yang and greatness, the two of them were actually discussing Luo Fu's doctrines.
However, compared to Han Fei, who came from the Legalist school, Zhang Liang was obviously more able to understand and accept Luo Fu's doctrines and ideas.
And the identity of being the synthesizer of the Legalist school had already imprinted Han Fei's heart with an ideological steel stamp.
He could accept the doctrines of other schools of thought, but he would never believe them.
Without even believing, Han Fei naturally could not have the opportunity to comprehend the existence of the aura of righteousness.
It was precisely because of the previous argument between the two that Zhang Liang seemed to have thought of something, but before he could speak.
He suddenly sensed that so-called world of supreme greatness and yang, and then this incredible change occurred.
Wei Zhuang frowned and said, "Now that Xin Zheng is going through a troubled time, what is Luo Zi's intention in doing this?"
"Intention?" Han Fei smiled wryly, shaking his head and saying, "I think my martial uncle probably has no intention at all, but simply discovered or created such an incredible aura of righteousness."
After a slight pause, Han Fei looked at Wei Zhuang and said, "It's like a tiger, even if it just casually turns over, it can cause a disaster to ordinary ants, and we are the ants, and Luo Fu martial uncle is the tiger."
Wei Zhuang's eyes flashed, and he said, "In that case, Zi Fang is just an accident. Even if there is no Zi Fang, there will be others?"
"That's right." Han Fei nodded, sighing softly, "We'll wait for Zi Fang to wake up before we talk about what martial uncle intends to do. Perhaps we can learn some of martial uncle's purpose from Zi Fang's mouth."
Han Fei and Wei Zhuang didn't have to wait long, and more importantly, the Confucian and Taoist system that Luo Fu created was just a prototype, like a building with only the foundation dug.
Not to mention anything else, Luo Fu hasn't even completely created the nine-rank system, let alone the realm above the nine ranks.
And Zhang Liang was just the first lucky one after the birth of the Confucian and Taoist system.
When he first came into contact with the Confucian and Taoist system and directly entered the ninth-rank realm, he quickly woke up from that mysterious and profound feeling.
Zhang Liang's face showed a bit of complexity, and he said, "I didn't expect that Mr. Luo Zi would be such a sage. Not only did he create the Three Ages Theory for achieving peace, but even... even opened up another lineage for our human race."
"Zi Fang, how do you feel?" Without rushing to ask about what was going on with the aura of righteousness just now, Wei Zhuang and Han Fei were now more concerned about Zhang Liang's physical condition.
After all, the aura of righteousness that Zhang Liang had shown just now, which was supreme yang and vast, filling the vastness, was simply like abandoning all other forces, as if resonating with the mountains, rivers, sun, and moon.
When Zhang Liang woke up from that strange state.
Wei Zhuang could clearly feel that Zhang Liang seemed to have a little mysterious change in him, but what was certain was that his body had not become like a martial artist.
But what was incredible was that Wei Zhuang felt a faint sense of threat from Zhang Liang.
You must know that Zhang Liang's strength, in Wei Zhuang's eyes, was actually nothing more than that.
And for Wei Zhuang, who thought highly of himself, Zhang Liang's greatest role was his family background, not his strength.
But now, even though his body had not shown any obvious improvement like a martial artist.
However, he felt a sense of threat from Zhang Liang that was enough to threaten himself.
The only explanation was the so-called aura of righteousness that Zhang Liang had just burst out.
Zhang Liang didn't know how much shock his sudden change had brought to Wei Zhuang.
Zhang Liang shook his head and said, "I'm fine, even better than ever before, but, Ninth Prince, do you know what an incredible thing Mr. Luo Zi has done?"
As he spoke, Zhang Liang's expression became excited, as if to prove it, gesticulating and saying, "Mr. Luo Zi, as a Confucian disciple, has opened up an unprecedented path to the sky for scholars all over the world."
"Wait a minute! Zi Fang, you said, Martial Uncle Luo Zi has opened up a path to the sky for scholars all over the world?" Han Fei frowned at Zhang Liang.
Zhang Liang didn't know Han Fei's doubts at the moment, but nodded directly and said, "Yes, Ninth Prince, Mr. Luo Zi has opened up a Confucian path for scholars all over the world."
"Isn't Confucianism founded by Confucius?" Wei Zhuang said in surprise.
"No, Confucianism has been passed down from Zong Zhou. The real founder was the Duke of Zhou, and Confucius only inherited the Duke of Zhou's doctrines," Han Fei shook his head and explained.
In fact, the current Confucius is far from having the status of later generations. At best, he is more respected in Confucianism, and even in Confucianism, his identity and position are not high.
The real and unquestionable sage is the Duke of Zhou Dan, who established the Zhou Rites, and is also recognized as the first sage.
Later generations of Confucian disciples say 'The Master said' at every turn. But now, the most persuasive is the Duke of Zhou.
Even Confucius, when arguing with others, once he fell into a disadvantage, or if there were any logical loopholes that were caught.
He would take it for granted and say, 'I dreamed of the Duke of Zhou last night. This truth was told to me by the Duke of Zhou.'
Often, as long as Confucius said this, then even if the opponent caught the flaws in Confucianism, they could only sigh helplessly.
The essence of Confucianism is similar to the Neo-Confucianism, Mind Learning, including various schools and academic cliques in later generations. They all follow the path of annotating the Six Classics with my own ideas.
In essence, as long as Confucius played the card of dreaming of the Duke of Zhou, then he could wash away the logical loopholes in Confucianism. It's not to say that the name of the Duke of Zhou Dan can be like the years of history, but it is a reason Confucius found to maintain Confucianism.
Duke of Zhou Dan is an ancient sage recognized by all schools of thought.
And the Duke of Zhou's governance has become an ideal state, with almost no reality, and more of a hope for the governance of the world by the various schools of thought.
This has also led to the Duke of Zhou's authority, which has reached an unshakable point.
Of course, the Duke of Zhou's authority, its unshakable nature, also has a premise.
For example, in the Legalist school, the Duke of Zhou does not have this weight.
On the one hand, the Legalist school itself does not have a clear lineage of inheritance. Often, many prominent Legalist disciples are self-taught types.
Including Han Fei and Li Si, they can be regarded as self-taught. Originally, the two of them studied Confucianism, and even were disciples of Xunzi, but as a result, these two brothers became representatives of the Legalist school.
Han Fei was even called the synthesizer of the Legalist school. In his book 'Five Vermin,' he simply made a comment that 'Confucians disrupt the law with literature, and knights violate the ban with martial arts.'
Perhaps it was because of Han Fei's disdain for Confucianism that he admired Luo Fu's academic ideas very much, and even thought that Luo Fu's Three Ages Theory was very feasible.
But he still firmly believed that it was impossible to achieve pure rule of benevolence by relying on the so-called Confucianism.
Feasibility and possibility are two different changes and cannot be confused.
This kind of disapproval of Luo Fu's doctrines from the bottom of academic logic made Han Fei, who had been exposed to Luo Fu's ideas earlier than Zhang Liang, theoretically should have been more touched by the divine might and holy realm.
But it happened that Zhang Liang became the first person closest to Luo Fu to obtain the aura of righteousness.
Although he did not approve of Confucianism in his heart, Han Fei had at least truly felt the supreme yang and greatness of the aura of righteousness.
Even if he didn't know martial arts, Han Fei also knew how terrible the consequences would be if Zhang Liang's situation was not an isolated case.
"Zi Fang, the Confucianism you are talking about, could it be the power of supreme greatness and yang just now?" Han Fei asked in a deep voice.
Zhang Liang first nodded, but then shook his head and said, "No, Ninth Prince, what I just got is not the aura of righteousness of Confucianism, but just a seed."
"A seed?" Wei Zhuang said in surprise, "Just a seed can make you bring me a sense of threat?"
Wei Zhuang didn't know that what Zhang Liang had obtained was indeed a seed of Confucianism and Taoism, and at best, it was only touching the edge of the ninth rank.
The reason why Wei Zhuang felt threatened was actually, in essence, purely due to the divine might world brought by Luo Fu.
Don't forget that the Confucianism and Taoism opened up by Luo Fu is not a system of returning great power to oneself, but a method of gathering the masses.
The divine might world has now completely transformed into a Confucian and Taoist holy realm. All Confucian disciples with firm hearts, as long as they recognize Luo Fu's academics, can have a certain probability of consciously contacting the divine might world.
Awakening the seed of the aura of righteousness that belongs to oneself.
But if you want to continuously improve this power, you need your own firm will and continuous exchange with the divine might holy realm.
Unfortunately, this kind of Confucian and Taoist aura of righteousness will only fulfill Luo Fu, the only sower.
Others are just providing resources for the growth of this system for Luo Fu.
The reason why Wei Zhuang felt threatened was not because he had noticed the existence of the divine might cave, but because he felt his own insignificance. It was a kind of instinctive vigilance and awe when life was threatened.
It's like a sixth sense that has been strengthened through acquired exercise and cultivation.
This kind of feeling in the dark is the most mysterious.