Ming Zuo

Chapter 310 Practical Science

"If a worker wants to do a good job, he must first sharpen his tools. Isn't that reasonable?"

"The words of the sage are self-righteous."

A question and an answer, no one objected.

One is that this sentence was said by Confucius, and Confucian disciples dare not question it; the other is that this sentence is indeed the most reasonable saying, no matter how many years have passed, no matter what time and space it has been, it is the most reasonable.

Liu Zongzhou's purpose is not here.

He asked again: "This is the most important principle, have you ever learned it and practiced it from time to time?"

This time even Zhang Cai said solemnly: "I examine myself three times a day, and dare not deviate."

Since it is a wise saying, who would not follow it?
Liu Zongzhou chuckled and began to ask questions.

"The way of heaven is the ultimate principle. I have learned it and used it in order to know it. But do you understand the way of using weapons?"

The scene suddenly fell silent, and everyone was stunned.

The angle of Liu Zongzhou's question was beyond everyone's expectations. Not only did everyone not think about it from this aspect, but they didn't know how to do it.

But is Liu Zongzhou's question wrong?
of course not.

Everyone knows that in order to succeed in doing things, you need to build the tools for doing things well.This is how people have known each other for thousands of years.

But Liu Zongzhou asked the weak side of a Confucian scholar: Do you know how to make tools?
Everyone present couldn't answer this question, only Liu Zongzhou's voice rushed into the depths of everyone's souls.

"Knowing that doing things requires sharp tools is to know why; not knowing the way of using tools is to not know why. If you don't know why, you can't do it if you know what to do. We scholars, knowing what to do, need to know more That's why."

The scene suddenly became lively, and everyone talked about it.Quite a few people scratched their heads and scratched their heads with great joy. They all felt that they had learned something and had a deeper understanding of learning.

Liu Zongzhou's words, if people in later generations listen to them, they don't think they are so great.

Because later generations' cognition of wise sayings is based on a large amount of scientific knowledge.

For example, "Water flows to a lower place," and everyone in the later generations knows that this is caused by the gravitational force of the earth.

But in this era, people also know that "water flows to low places" is the ultimate truth, but why water flows to low places is a question that people in this era have never touched and cannot answer.

Liu Zongzhou only used a famous saying of Confucius to turn superficial ideas into real talents close to practical application, and the natural effect is extraordinary.

Zhang Cai tried his best to resist.

"The way to make a sharp tool is what a craftsman does. Scholars of my generation should make good use of a craftsman for our own use, and we can also accomplish things."

Liu Zongzhou rejected it on the spot.

"It's superficial to learn on paper, and I know that this matter must be practiced. Does your words conform to the original intention of practical learning? If a craftsman does it, can a craftsman be a scholar? If you practice it, what is the difference between a scholar and a craftsman?" "

Zhang Cai was dumbfounded, speechless, and dared not express any more words.

He instinctively sensed that Liu Zongzhou's words were dangerous.

He was a person who advocated practical learning, but today he said that he wanted to learn from the achievements of craftsmen.

Is it still practical to sit back and enjoy the benefits?
Furthermore, since "knowing why" is done by craftsmen, are craftsmen considered scholars?

Confucianism advocates learning and learning from time to time, so scholars know why, and it must also involve the field of tools. Are scholars also craftsmen?
But if scholars and craftsmen are confused, is the division of scholars, farmers, businessmen, and craftsmen still correct?

He dared to say that this class division is correct, then Neo Confucianism immediately became a false study that cannot be practiced, and was suspected by the world.

He dared to say that this class division is incorrect, so the three cardinal principles and five constant principles are also wrong?
Moreover, this class division was implemented by Ming Taizu. If you don't agree with it, wouldn't it be suspected of rebellion?

Zhang Cai suddenly found that no matter what he said, he was in danger.

I had no choice but to shut up.

But if he didn't speak, in the eyes of everyone, it was tacitly acquiescing that Liu Zongzhou was right.

At this moment, Zhang Cai completely lost the capital of confrontation, and had already lost completely in this debate.

But no one noticed his frustration, because Liu Zongzhou's lecture had become the protagonist.

"When we read books, we must not only know what it is, but also why it is so. Only in this way can we be thorough, and everything in the world will not stagnate. The sage said, we should implement benevolent government. But how to implement benevolent government? Why do benevolent government? How to lighten the burden of taxation and rest with the people? What is its significance? How to implement it? What are the specific steps? There are countless clues in it, and one hair will affect the whole body. If there is no investigation, benevolent government will become bad government .This is the meaning of knowing why.”

Everyone was fascinated by what they heard, and even some wrote down what Liu Zongzhou said.

"Benevolence" is the core concept of Confucianism, and it is also the core element of Confucian definitions in ethics, politics, society and many other aspects.

What is benevolence, how to explain benevolence, and how to practice benevolence have always been the subjects of Confucian thinking and research.

What is the subject of benevolence? After thousands of years, Confucianism's cognition can be said to be extensive and precise.

How to explain benevolence, the great masterpieces of Confucianism are vast and solid enough.

Only how to practice benevolence is the roughest aspect of Confucianism.

Just like the phrase "lightly corroborated and thin Fu" that scholars often say, it has been said for thousands of years, and the ears of those who listen are callused.

Is that right?
Of course.

But how to lighten the burden?

Those who have studied administration know that there are profound economics, sociology, administration, management, demography, geography and many other disciplines behind it.

Officials of Confucian origin may be able to know the specific implementation methods after they have honed themselves in the officialdom.

What's worse is that even these officials who have practiced will not record the methods and processes of their own practice.

Looking at their materials and records, they can only be gathered into the simple four words of "light corvee and thin fu".

So much so that what the latecomers see is still the ultimate definition of the cloud and mist, but they cannot see the way to the ultimate definition.

The reason Liu Zongzhou explained is not profound, but he hopes that Confucian scholars can practice the truth of the Dao in person, and then tell more people about the "why" so that more people in the world have a clear understanding of the truth of the Dao. And a deep understanding.

Logically speaking, no one can refute Liu Zongzhou's point of view.

but……

Once Confucian scholars really do this, it means that they will leave the pile of old papers and enter the real world to use the situation in the real world to disprove knowledge.

Regardless of the result of such counter-evidence, it means that Confucianism has since embarked on the road of practicality.

Obviously, there are many things in Confucianism that cannot be proved in reality, and there are also many things that can be proved.

After practical verification, Confucianism will inevitably become more pure, and only the part that has been verified can have vitality.

Obviously, what is it that is not alive?

It is precisely the doctrine of destiny, the three cardinal guides and five constant principles, and class division that maintain the ruling foundation of feudal society.

Once these things are proved to be useless and meaningless by reality, it means that the ideological foundation of feudal social rule begins to collapse, which will inevitably bring about the liberation of the minds of the world.

This is Liu Zongzhou's deep meaning.

Using the original Confucian theories, call on scholars to know what it is and why it is, and vigorously promote pragmatism.

The practical learning of Zhang Cai and others is nothing more than calling on scholars to do what the sages require, but his practical learning is calling on scholars to know why they do what they do.

This difference is undoubtedly further, and it is more convincing than Zhang Cai's practical theory.

But once the scholars follow it, it will inevitably bring about great changes in Confucianism.

In today's world, except for a few people in this camp, there is no one who can appreciate Liu Zongzhou's intentions.

At least Zhang Cai and others were just depressed because they couldn't refute Liu Zongzhou's point of view, and they didn't expect that this great master of Confucianism was actually poaching the corner of Confucianism.

Even if they want to continue to resist, all they can do is maintain the Confucianism.

But the cultural concepts of the two, one is complacent and old-fashioned, and the other is straight down the river, and the vastness of the soup is completely incomparable.

People in the world are profit-seeking, and after comparison, there is no suspense at all about how to choose.

The debate created by Zhang Cai's painstaking efforts is destined to set up the best stage for Liu Zongzhou's practical theory.

Today's scene spreads out, and it will not take long before it will spread all over the world.

Zuo Menggeng, Huang Zongxi and others thought hard and didn't know how to spread new ideas, but Liu Zongzhou used his strength and antelopes to do it.

From this point of view, the Grand Master deserves to be a Grand Master.The sophistication of the means is far from being comparable to young people like them.

All the people present, staring blankly at the mighty Liu Zongzhou, felt admiration, and at the same time decided the outcome of this debate.

Zhang Cai sat still, his figure had already been a bit sluggish for some time, and his stooped appearance was incompatible with this high-spirited spring day.

He understands that his ideal...

shattered.

(End of this chapter)