Chiming Academy is located in Daixianfang in the west of the city. It is only separated from the west wall of Kyoto by a road. It is a very inconspicuous private square among the 108 squares in Kyoto.
There are many academies in Kyoto, and there are many students from all over the country who come to Kyoto to study. In addition to the Imperial Academy and other the highest universities in the empire, the four major academies in Kyoto have always been the places where students look up to. However, Chimei Academy is not among these four academies.
Even among the top ten academies in Kyoto, Chimei-in has no chance of being selected.
The reason is simple. An academy that can be famous all over the world must either have produced talents who are famous all over the world, or it must have strong financial resources, a large number of students in the academy, and strong connections in Kyoto.
The reason why the four major academies in Kyoto are famous all over the world is not only that there are too many celebrities from the four major academies, many of whom have become imperial officials and even pillars of the country, but also that each academy has sufficient financial resources.
After the students who came out of the academy become famous, they will naturally maintain a good relationship with the academy. Once they gain power, they will give back to the academy and take care of them in many matters. After these people become court officials, they will naturally be ingratiating themselves with those who flatter them.
There is an endless stream of people, and donating money to the college to fund education has become one of the ways to find a way out.
If there are people who serve as officials in the court and have strong financial resources, this will naturally make more people join the four major academies. Not only can they study in the academies, but they can also use the academies as a background to make more connections.
However, Zhimingyuan does not occupy any of them.
There are at least 70 or 80 academies in Kyoto with a flourishing literary style. Chimei-in is very inconspicuous among them. It can be said that it is unknown. Not only has no dignitary emerged from Chimei-in over the years, but everyone around them also knows that entering Chimei-in
The students in the academy all come from poor backgrounds and have no connections at all.
Although the four major academies are famous all over the world, to enter one of the four major academies, one has to be famous, have a wealthy family, or have a good background. Moreover, the annual fees charged by the academies are not low. In addition to academic fees, food, drink and accommodation in the academies are also included.
None are cheap.
Even if children from ordinary families have some talent, they simply cannot survive without financial support.
Compared with those big academies, the existence of Zhimingyuan seems to be a place for poor children to study. The academic resources here are almost negligible, and the food, clothing and accommodation are very simple, and the entire academy is not big, and
Compared to the four major academies, which often have thousands of people, the scale is completely different.
When Qin Xiao and Qiuniang arrived at Zhimingyuan, it was still early in the morning. According to Qin Xiao's plan, they entered the academy to see the situation on the grounds that Qiuniang had sent roasted chestnuts with sugar.
Qiuniang would occasionally send some sugar-roasted chestnuts to Wei Fuzi before, so it was not surprising that Gu Baiyi brought Qin Xiao here when she was not in Kyoto. After all, if someone with a heart would investigate, they would also find out that Gu Baiyi had spent a lot of time in Zhimingyuan.
It is human nature for Qiuniang to be filial to Master Wei because of Gu Baiyi.
Qin Xiao was dismissed from his official position and had nothing to do. It was not strange for him to follow Qiuniang out for some fresh air.
The sky is high and the clouds are clear, and the sun shines on the top of the bamboo signboard of the academy. Under the top of the sign is a yellowed wooden plaque with the three words "Zhimingyuan" written on it. It is quite normal and very ordinary.
Qin Xiao knew that the more mysterious Zhimingyuan was, the more normal it would look on the outside and would never attract anyone's attention.
"Ms. Gu!" The gatekeeper was an old man in his fifties, with a wine gourd on his waist. He obviously knew Qiu Niang, and said with a smile: "I haven't been here for a few days. If the master knew that you were coming, he would be very happy.
Already."
"Hello, Mr. Han." Qiuniang saluted. Seeing this, Qin Xiao also bowed her hands to the old man.
The old man glanced at Qin Xiao and said with a smile: "Who is this?"
"His surname is Qin...!" Qiuniang really didn't know how to introduce Qin Xiao, but Qin Xiao already smiled and said: "Sister Qiuniang and I have made a lifelong commitment!"
Qiuniang's face turned red, and Lao Hantou's eyes lit up, and he said with a smile: "This is a happy event, Mrs. Gu, I congratulate you. Little brother, you have really good taste. Mrs. Gu is virtuous and virtuous, she is the best in the world."
A good girl, you married her, but you have accumulated virtues in your previous life."
"Master Han...!" Qiuniang was a little shy and had already handed over an oil paper bag: "These are the sugar-roasted chestnuts I just copied. Master Han also wants to try them."
"Good stuff, Mrs. Gu, you're welcome, little old man." Old Hantou happily took the oil paper bag and pointed inside: "You know where the master lives, just go in by yourself, little old man won't lead the way.
.”
Qiuniang nodded and led Qin Xiao into the academy.
Qin Xiao saw that although the academy looked simple, it was quiet and quiet. The courtyard was not too big, but it was an academy after all, and it was not too small either. Most of the buildings inside were made of bamboo and wood. The landscape in the courtyard was unique. Looking around, everywhere
When bamboos are planted, the fragrance of bamboo floats, and the buildings are hidden in the bamboo forest.
Occasionally they saw civilian students walking among them, but they didn't pay attention to outsiders. Qiuniang and Qin Xiao walked along the path, and when they met the students in the courtyard, they all bowed and nodded, appearing polite, but they didn't know how to do it.
Say one more word.
Qin Xiao looked around and found nothing special except that there were more bamboos.
"Can we enter and leave the academy at will?" Qin Xiao asked in a low voice: "There doesn't seem to be much resistance when we come in."
"Even though Mr. Han is old, he has very good eyesight." Qiuniang said with a smile: "When I first came to the academy, he was the gatekeeper. I heard that he had been guarding the gate of the academy for many years. In the end,
How many years, no one can tell, but it seems that he has been there since the first day the academy was opened."
"When was the academy opened?"
Qiuniang shook her head and said: "I don't know either. When I came to Beijing when I was a child, the academy had already existed for several years. I didn't find out how old it is." She whispered: "Brother Xiao, when you see Master,
Don't ask too many questions. Bai Yi has told me before that if I see the Master in the academy, I will answer the questions truthfully, but don't ask the Master. The academy has the rules of the academy. The Master is the dean of Zhimingyuan. If you ask
It would be rude to ask if you shouldn't ask."
Qin Xiao nodded and said, "Don't worry, sister, I won't talk too much."
The two of them walked forward for a short distance when they suddenly heard a voice from beside them saying calmly: "There is no difference between the rule of virtue and the rule of law. They only depend on the good and evil of human nature. In the beginning, human nature is inherently evil.
Precisely because human nature is evil, it is necessary to use a method to restrict people's words and deeds, and this method must not be interfered by human nature. Therefore, there are cold legal provisions to restrict people's words and deeds with strict laws that are not interfered by human nature.
, Only in this way can the evil of human nature be controlled."
Qin Xiao understood clearly and couldn't help but follow the sound and looked over. All he saw was a small bamboo forest on the edge. At this time, there were seven or eight civilian students sitting cross-legged in the forest. They were obviously divided into two groups. The one sitting on the left was sitting cross-legged.
There are five or six people sitting there, and there are only two people on the right, so they are naturally in the minority.
The person who spoke was in his early twenties and one of the two minorities.
"Junior brother, I disagree with what I said." The man on the left first raised his hands and said solemnly: "Laws are appointed by people, so they must be contaminated by human nature, so there is no law that is not interfered by human nature in the true sense. However,
Laws in the world can make people abandon evil and promote good. In the final analysis, the human nature of those who make laws naturally has good nature in them."
"That's right." Someone immediately raised their hands and said, "The purpose of many laws is to combat evil deeds, so it is irrefutable that human nature is inherently good."
The man on the left smiled and shook his head: "No. When a baby cries for the first time, he eats his mother's milk, just to fill himself up, but does not think about the mother's pain. How can it be said that human nature is inherently good? When you are pregnant for ten months, the mother will suffer
After all the hard work, how can it be that human nature is inherently good? It is precisely because human nature is inherently evil that the ancient sages used morality to guide human nature to be good. If human nature is inherently good, why do we need to guide it?"
"What my junior brother said is different. Human nature is good, but the laws and regulations are not effective for everyone." The man on the right said loudly: "The same laws, some people can obey them, and some people can abolish them. Therefore, there is injustice in the world, and injustice leads to human beings."
Evil. This is not that human nature is inherently evil, but that the world is polluted and polluted. That is why we need the rule of virtue, which can guide everyone to do good and return to their original hearts."
Qin Xiao knew that this was a debate among the academy students, and listened with great interest. She couldn't help but stand by the forest and listen. Qiu Niang saw that Qin Xiao looked very interested, and couldn't bear to disturb her, so she followed Qin Xiao.
Qiuniang was naturally not interested in the topics those people were debating.
The man on the left smiled calmly and asked: "Senior brother, may I ask what the nature of tiger and wolf is?"
"Animals cannot be compared with humans," the senior brother said seriously.
"So, senior brother, do you think that animals are inherently evil?" The man on the left smiled and said: "As we all know, tigers are poisonous and do not eat their seeds, but there are many people who do eat their seeds, and their behavior is worse than that of animals. Could it be that senior brother thinks that human nature
Better than animals?"
The senior brother immediately said: "The natures of humans and animals are completely incompatible. Human nature is inherently good, and only then can we have the heart of a benevolent person. Animals feed themselves, have no compassion at all, and trample on other lives wantonly. Therefore, the ancient sages have said that if a person is virtuous,
To care for oneself without regard for other lives is the behavior of an animal."
When Qin Xiao heard this, he couldn't help laughing. The academy was already extremely quiet. Qin Xiao's sudden laughter immediately attracted everyone's attention. Qin Xiao saw seven or eight eyes directed at him, feeling a little embarrassed.
He hurriedly cupped his hands, thinking that these are all academy disciples. He accidentally lost his temper and offended me. It would be better to leave as soon as possible. Just as he was about to turn around, he heard someone ask: "Why are you laughing?"
Qin Xiao was a little embarrassed, scratched his head and said: "It's nothing, I just thought your argument was interesting."
"Interesting?" The faces of everyone present became serious. Senior Brother Zuo Shou asked: "I wonder what is interesting?"
"You said that if people ignore others for their own interests, it is the behavior of animals." Qin Xiao said with a smile: "But there are so many people in this world. They know clearly that it is the behavior of animals, but they do not hesitate. They know that they are doing evil, but they still do it.
I don’t care. In this case, doesn’t it mean that human nature is inherently evil?”
Everyone on the left frowned, but the expressions of the two on the right were much more relaxed. The junior brother on the right said with a smile: "Yes, people know that it is an act of animals, but they still do it resolutely. This is proof of the evil nature of human nature.
"
Qin Xiao shook his head and said, "What you said is also wrong."
The man was startled, and Qin Xiao already said: "There are indeed people in the world who are inferior to animals, but there are also people with righteousness. There are countless benevolent and righteous people who are dedicated to doing good, knowing that they cannot do it, and who are generous and sad." After a pause.
, Cai Dao: "I heard a story. There was a man who robbed money and killed people. After he was arrested, he was sentenced to death. Before the execution, the man cried bitterly. People around him asked him why. He said that it was because he robbed money and killed people.
The wife at home is seriously ill, and without money for medical treatment, she will definitely die. So he risked his life and took the risk to save his wife. Do you think this person is evil or good?"