"Assuming that the myriad of different physical realms are real, and classifying them into categories to understand their rationale, is the point of view of gewuxue." [Original Confucianism]
"Everyone, get up." The emperor waved his sleeves, put his hands behind his back, and called: "Ma Jun, come closer and see if this seismometer can be restored to its original state?"
As the most outstanding inventor in the late Han Dynasty and early Wei Dynasty, Ma Jun was as talented as Zhang Heng in the invention of utensils. In history, this man could even develop a compass that had been lost for hundreds of years by summarizing its style and function in a few classics.
Now that the original seismometer is available, the emperor has also planned to send people to find Zhang Heng's descendants. With Ma Jun's talent, it should not be difficult to restore it.
"I, I, I don't know." Ma Jun said hesitantly. He couldn't help but curiously looked up at the complex internal structure of the seismograph. Although it was incomplete, his eyes seemed to be glued to it.
It was difficult to remove for a long time.
The sophisticated instruments in front of him were the only ones Ma Jun had ever seen in his life. He asked himself that he was not obsessed with skills. However, once he saw the seismograph, he was inevitably deeply shocked. It seemed that there was a primitive emotion in his heart that told him that he was born with this instrument.
For those who do this, studying skills is their destination in life rather than reading scriptures.
The emperor did not expect that Ma Jun would have such complicated emotions in his heart, nor did he expect that this time would change the trajectory of a person's life.
Wang Fu was a little unhappy with Yu Ma Jun's reply and scolded: "How can you say you don't know without verification?"
Seeing Ma Jun lowering his head in shame, his eyes flashing, wondering what he was struggling with, Wang Fu turned around and said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, Ma Deheng is a man of ingenuity and good skills. If you can give him time, he can thoroughly observe the seismometer."
, this thing will surely be restored to new condition.”
Wang Fu's evaluation made Ma Jun a little unhappy. He subconsciously thought that this evaluation was a description of craftsmen, and didn't the emperor's selection of officials depend on their knowledge of classics? How could he be such a craftsman in the eyes of the emperor?
Seeing Ma Jun's embarrassed look, the emperor suddenly remembered what Wang Duan had proposed to him at the beginning of the year. At that time, Ma Jun successfully built the Quyuan plow. The emperor wanted to reward him, but it was Wang Duan who suggested that Ma Jun should be admitted to the Imperial Palace.
The reason is that this person once sought to learn but failed.
It seems that this person is still hesitating between his hobbies and ideal reality. Yes, he is at this age when he is confused.
Without passion for an industry, there would not be much creativity. Ma Jun was positioned as an inventor and design engineer in the emperor's heart. If he could not strengthen his belief in manufacturing, he would know that there are other ways out in the world besides Confucian classics.
, even if the emperor asked him to do it, Ma Jun would not devote all his energy and enthusiasm. In the end, he would be just an excellent craftsman. There are too many scholars in the world, and there is no shortage of Ma Jun, but the outstanding ones can promote
There are very few inventors who have made progress in social productivity.
Therefore, the emperor felt that it was necessary to establish faith in him, lest he go from the mainstream to the path of scholarship: "Have you ever read the "University" chapter in the "Book of Rites"?"
"Read, read." Ma Jun immediately became extremely alert, thinking that the emperor was going to test his knowledge.
Wang Fu was a little puzzled, wondering why the emperor suddenly changed the topic.
"Study things to gain knowledge, be sincere and upright, cultivate yourself and your family, govern the country and bring peace to the world." After the emperor finished speaking briefly, he glanced behind him subconsciously. He came out early today, and Xun You was still handling government affairs in Chengming Hall, so he did not follow him.
At this time, the emperor was only accompanied by his attendant Huangfu Li and Huangmen's attendant Guanqiu Xing. Neither of them were Confucian scholars who purely studied the classics. They did not have much resistance to the emperor's annotation of scriptures, and neither Xun You nor Yang Qi
Others are so sensitive: "The most important and basic thing is the four words 'investigate things to gain knowledge'."
The emperor talked eloquently: "What is the study of things to achieve knowledge? It is to explore how many things in the world exist, what their uses are, and how they can be combined with each other. Therefore, those who seek knowledge must practice and verify it in person, and even explore the truth. This is
'Study things'. Then summarize them and gain new knowledge. This is the so-called 'knowledge'."
Ma Jun half-opened his mouth. He had never thought that "studying things to achieve knowledge" could be explained in this way. This was different from what the doctor of "Book of Rites" of Taixue Ming Dynasty said. Not only Ma Jun, but also Huangfu Li and
Guan Qiu Xing's expression was full of surprise, but Liu Wan clasped his hands in front of his chest, looking deeply convinced.
In the emperor's explanation, "studying things to achieve knowledge" refers to the subject's purposeful and conscious practice of transforming objects. People must have a pragmatic spirit of inquiry and scientific research, and should not be empiricist and dogmatic.
"But, but, Zheng Gongyou, there is an annotation saying, 'Ge means Laiye. Wu means Jushiye'." Ma Jun had attended several classes when Zheng Xuan came to Taixue to discuss the classics.
This section was still fresh in my memory. When he was seriously discussing the meaning of the scripture, he was able to say it in one breath: "Studying things to gain knowledge, could it be that 'if you know the good deeply, good things will come; if you know the evil deeply, evil will come'"
Something?"
Studying things to achieve knowledge is one of the most difficult important Confucian concepts to explain. It is also the epistemology and methodology of Confucianism that specializes in studying the "principles of things".
In the eyes of the emperor, Zheng Xuan's explanation was wrong. Not only that, just like leading a team, he, the leader of the predecessors, went the wrong way, and the scholars who influenced him in later generations also went astray, and the interpretation of "investigating things to achieve knowledge"
It developed into "studying the truth of things so that one can understand the principles of nature" and moved to the moral level of "conscience" and "natural principles". It completely deviated from the purpose that the emperor believed and also influenced the treatment of science by thousands of Chinese intellectuals.
attitude towards research.
"It is said in "The Great Learning" that 'the object is studied and then known', which means that there is the object first and then there is knowledge. However, Zheng Jun placed 'zhi' before 'the object', saying that there is knowledge first and then there is the object.
Isn't this a reversal of cause and effect and contrary to the meaning of scripture?" The emperor bluntly pointed out Zheng Xuan's mistake and said categorically: "That's why what Mr. Zheng said is wrong here."
Incorrect?
Zheng Xuan was one of the greatest Confucian scholars in the world. He was rigorous in his studies and erudite. He not only studied ancient and modern classics, but also integrated them comprehensively. He obviously had the tendency to become a master of his own school. Most of the scholars in the world interpreted his annotations in the classics.
He was regarded as a model. But such a scholar's interpretation of "Book of Rites and Great Learning" was directly recognized by the emperor as wrong.
If there is a disciple of the Zheng family present, even if the opponent is the emperor, he will have to jump up and defend himself.
However, no one present dared to say such a thing.
Everyone was plunged into deep thinking by the emperor's words. Liu Wan and others were better off. Although they were shocked, they also calmed down. After all, they were adults and had mature thinking ability. After all, Confucian classics pay attention to
It is a subtle statement, and in just a few words, anyone can explain a set of truths. Even if Zheng Xuan's interpretation of this sentence is wrong, it does not mean that the emperor's explanation is correct.
In today's world where morality is emphasized, although the emperor's explanation of the study of things and knowledge is novel, it does not completely shake everyone's ideas.
On the contrary, Wang Fu and Ma Jun, two young men with immature world views, looked like houses that had not yet been built, and were kicked down by the emperor in one fell swoop.
Ma Jun subconsciously wanted to argue, but he didn't know where to start. There was a faint voice in his heart that told him that the emperor was right. Whether King Wen played "Yi" or Lu Ban made a saw, they were not all ancient sages.
What empirical principles have been summarized through the exploration of all things between heaven and earth? If you can explore the principles of the world through practice and be awarded an official title, then why should you study hard with books?
It was as if a broad road that had never been seen before appeared before his eyes, and the bright future broke through the pain and hesitation of his many years of decision-making.