Book name: "The Wind Flows Away"

Publisher: China Youth Publishing House

Publication date: January 2009

This The book should not have been released at this time, for two reasons: first, reading it once is not enough, and you should read it several times before you can deeply understand these cultural figures; second, the trip to Fenyang allowed me to see certain cultures in history Shadow of the character. Solemn statement: This article is only for reference. If you want to understand it clearly, it is strongly recommended to buy a book and savor Teacher Bao Pengshan's wonderful writing style and strong feelings.

Teacher Bao Pengshan talked about the cultural figures in his eyes. Starting with Laozi and ending with Xie Lingyun, many cultural celebrities in China presented their most realistic postures one by one. I will not list them one by one here, but only give a few excerpts from my reading notes for the readers’ enjoyment.

Lao Tzu is an elusive figure who appeared in the childhood of this nation, but then suddenly disappeared. Laozi's release from seclusion is of great significance. It shows that we are no longer worthy of being guided by philosophy, and we have also abandoned philosophy and indulged in the pursuit of the real world. I was the director of the archives of the Zhou Dynasty, so I had read all kinds of ugliness and internal information in history. His Tao Te Ching talks about two things: living in society and governing the country.

Lao Tzu’s way of governing the country is inaction. Governing a big country is like cooking small dishes, don’t mess around! Put down those messy ministries, take care of them less, do less, and the people's lives will be easier. Of course, the prerequisite is that the country is small and the people are small. It can be said that Lao Tzu's suggestion is very bold and goes against the trend of the times.

Lao Tzu's way of life is that the weak overcome the strong. The strong are the way to die, and the weak are the way to live. Lao Tzu said that he has three treasures: kindness, frugality, and not daring to be the first in the world. People must not only learn to be brave, but also learn to be brave and dare not.

Lao Tzu’s advice sounds different from that of ordinary people, because I am a lonely person who has lost faith in human nature. He finally chose to leave seclusion, probably with a strong sense of loneliness. When ordinary people see things clearly, I am alone in a daze; when ordinary people look at things, I alone feel depressed.

Confucius was a beacon of light hanging in that distant ancient century. The era he lived in was indeed chaotic and unethical, but Confucius took it as his own mission to revive culture. So I keep hitting walls all my life but keep working hard. Until the last sigh: The dead are like this! It is more like a flickering candlelight, making us feel the warmth of culture.

Confucius was a cultural giant who was already famous all over the world at that time. What is rare is that he did not hide in his study to engage in pure academic work, but ran around hoping to do something with the feeling of benefiting the world. History did not make him Zichan or Yan Ying, but made him Confucius.

Confucius did not suffer when he was frustrated in officialdom. He used it to act and discarded it to hide it. He did not complain about heaven or others. In addition to the Analects of Confucius, "Book of Songs", "Spring and Autumn", "Book of Songs" and "Book of Changes", which are very important to the entire nation, are all related to him.

The reason why Confucius is a teacher for all generations is because he created private education and advocated teaching without distinction. His students include princes and nobles as well as traffickers and lackeys, rich merchants as well as children from poor families. After his death, his disciples observed mourning for three years, and Zigong, his most loyal student, even observed mourning for six years. Every time we think about this, we can't help but sigh.

Mozi was the first swordsman in Chinese history and the greatest swordsman! After Confucius, he once again brought the light of hope to our nation. He was bareheaded, barefooted, and wearing a short cloth shirt. His face was dark and anxious. Mozi was the first to study Confucianism, but later found that he was not to his liking. Confucian etiquette is too complicated and impractical. So he betrayed his master and at the same time betrayed the Zhou Dynasty.

Mozi served with one hundred and eighty people, all of whom could be made to go through fire and blade without turning back. The Mozi School is simply a death squad. Mozi's team attached great importance to defense, and his way of opposing war was to use a variety of dazzling defensive methods to prevent war. Chinese machinery and technology have developed as a result.

Mozi’s sharpest sword was not his city-defending weapon, but the edge of his thoughts. Confucius maintained Zhou's dignity, while Mozi provided theoretical support in overthrowing the Zhou dynasty. His method was to ignore the existence of the Zhou Dynasty. In his theory, the Zhou Dynasty had been wiped out before Qin Shihuang. He lifted up the sky. He believed that there was no emperor, only heaven. Without the Son of Heaven, there would be no world. Mozi was the first to use the word "state" extensively. Mozi is calling for a new world.

Mozi's "universal love" is against the hierarchical system of "propriety", and "exalting the virtuous" is against the aristocratic feudal hereditary system of "kinship". "Frugal use", "frugal burial" and "feiyue" are also literary embellishments against the Zhou Dynasty. Mozi also proposed the need for an emperor, but it would not be hereditary, but would be chosen through "exalting the worthy". But after all, Mozi was not Rousseau. He believed that after electing the emperor, one must obey him completely, even if he was autocracy. However, he arranged "Heaven" as a check and balance on the emperor. I hope the emperor will restrain himself.

The reason why Mencius is a lesser sage is because he made at least three major contributions to Confucianism.

First, he developed "benevolence" into "righteousness". Benevolence is the heart, righteousness is the expression. He changed the evaluator from internal to external, which is obviously more feasible.

Second, he developed "benevolent government" into a more specific "kingly way." The royal way is to cultivate people's "benevolence", and they will be unrivaled whether at home or in the country. This idea is of course naive, but the Chinese believe it. Until the Republic of China, many scholars advocated "good man governmentism".

Third, Mencius emphasized the "theory of good nature". The theory of good nature is actually the foundation of Confucian philosophy, ethics, and politics. Without the theory of good nature, all Confucian methods and theories will be challenged. But unfortunately, most of Mencius' methods of argumentation use analogies, which is not very rigorous.

But Mencius’s loose arguments are often hard to argue with, because he is not saying “this is true” but “this is good”. His strong language skills and moral charisma enable him to become the king's teacher. Mencius was often attacked in later generations, generally not for his views but for his attitude. He is so "manly". Not only did he criticize Yang Zhu and Mozi as beasts, but he also accused the monarch of being handsome and cannibal. The relationship between politics and culture should be that of husband and wife, where they can quarrel and scold. Mencius did this. But then the culture gradually became concubines and slaves. Zhu Yuanzhang hated Mencius deeply. He said that if the old man lived to this day, could he avoid death?

Zhuangzi was the only one among the pre-Qin scholars who did not speak to emperors but to ordinary people like us. When others were offering advice to the princes, Zhuangzi turned around and earnestly told us how to save and liberate ourselves, how to maintain peace and purity of mind, and how to maintain inner self-respect and self-love in an ugly world.

Among the pre-Qin scholars, Zhuangzi was the most charming. His charm lies in his ability to perfectly combine passion and detachment. His world is vibrant and full of imagination, and he passionately discusses with us how to detach ourselves from the world. Who can do it except Zhuangzi? Zhuangzi's articles were even just to satisfy his own genius.

Zhuangzi also opposed war, but he was not as anxious as Mozi, nor as angry as Mencius. He just told a short story: a snail has a country called Chushi on its left tentacle, and a country called Manshi on its right tentacle. One day, a war broke out between these two countries. Millions of people were killed. The victorious party pursued the defeated party for 15 days before returning. Is there any greater irony than this? This is Zhuangzi's style.

Zhuangzi has comforted many frustrated souls for us, noble and humble, to wait for life and death. In ancient times, students had to bring the Four Books and Five Classics with them when taking exams, but if you look under your pillow, you will definitely find a copy of Zhuangzi.

Xunzi was the one who married off Confucianism. He married an emperor, but the marriage was not very good and she was a concubine. Xunzi did not have the sentiments of Confucius, the spirit of Mencius, and the unrestrainedness of Zhuangzi. Xunzi hoped that Confucian scholars would put aside their independent personality and start by depriving people of their right to economic independence and deprive people of their independence of thought and freedom of behavior.

Confucius emphasized benevolence, Mencius emphasized righteousness, and Xunzi emphasized obedience! All actions are based on whether they are beneficial to you. No wonder she soon married into the emperor's family. Xunzi should have met Mencius. He was younger than Mencius. But he was very cold towards Mencius and said that Mencius was weird and could not be understood.

Xunzi advocated the theory of evil nature, which was actually a traitor to Confucianism. Because human nature is inherently evil, authoritarian rule is needed. This provides a theoretical basis for the emperor's exclusive dictatorship. So Xunzi went to Qin when he was more than 80 years old, breaking the tradition that Confucian scholars did not enter Qin. He continued to peddle his ideas in the Qin State, and when he came back, he praised the autocratic Qin State. It's a pity that it's still not used.

Take a look at Xunzi’s proposition: Use obscene sounds, strange clothes, strange skills, and strange weapons to make people suspicious and kill them!

Qu Yuan’s influence on China was not his thoughts or his deeds, but his failure.

This is the failure of individuals against history, the failure of personality against society, and the failure of ideals against reality. This failure is vividly expressed in "Li Sao" and "Nine Chapters". This is the first record in Chinese history of a unique individual clashing with society and history and being tragically destroyed.

Qu Yuan pursued perfection and perfection, but "you can think but cannot rely on you", so King Huai of Chu abandoned him. Therefore, "The whole world is turbid, but I alone am pure, and everyone is drunk, but I alone am sober." He lamented, "People's hearts are not the same as mine." He put himself on the opposite side of the world. The word "seeking a woman" in "Li Sao" means seeking a bosom friend, but "without a woman" means having no bosom friend. Qu Yuan's possible confidant should be Jia Yi of the Han Dynasty. He is not born yet.

Qu Yuan had no experience in lower-class life, and his life began too purely. So he doesn't understand evil and injustice. He can't live in peace with them, even if he makes excuses. Because of his uncompromising attitude, it was possible for the world to be saved from total depravity.

Although Qu Yuan's works are not many, they are all "big poems". There is great spirit, great personality, great realm, great pain, great worries, great questions, great love, great hatred, great sorrow and great joy. He will never "be resentful but not angry, sad but not sad, happy but not lewd". He does not pursue moderation, he demands purity.

Shang Yang really sacrificed his conscience for Qin. No need for reputation, personality, or friends. He betrayed his friend Wei Gongzi Yan for Qin, so that when he fled later, no country was willing to take him in because they were not sure of his character.

He even risked his own life for the sake of Qin. To enforce the rule of law, he even dared to cut off the nose of the prince who was about to inherit the throne. How can you not be hunted everywhere? Shang Yang was torn apart by a car, and his whole family was not spared. This is indeed a tragedy. But if you look at Shang Jun's book, you will feel that this person does not deserve sympathy.

All the views in Shang Jun's book are intended to use extremely single and cruel methods to restrain the people, so that they can only engage in farming and fighting. All other occupations that do not involve farming are considered illegal. They were not given food in prison.

So the Qin State at that time was a weird country. It had a large land, not many people, and fought fiercely, but no people from other countries were willing to migrate here. Because it’s really not free. And they were punished at every turn, such as cutting off their noses, cutting off their thighs, cutting off their genitals, beheading, and splitting their cars...

Shang Yang emphasized that when the country is strong and the people are weak, the people cannot be rich, have surplus food, or have dignity. , because this will allow the common people to challenge the imperial power.

He also invented a method for gangsters to manage good people, requiring people to supervise and report each other, even husbands and wives and fathers and sons must report and supervise. So later "King Hui's chariot was broken up, but the people of Qin showed no mercy."

Han Fei was a student of Xunzi and a classmate of Li Si. Both Han Fei and Li Si turned away from Confucianism and became Legalists.

In fact, Su Dongpo said that Xunzi should be theoretically responsible for the tyranny of Qin. Han Feizi had no confidence in human nature. He believed that Yao and Shun were just waiting for luck, and it would be better to implement the rule of law than to wait for Yao and Shun. This view is undoubtedly progressive. Han Fei believes that the relationship between people is actually just a relationship of interest.

As for the monarch and his ministers, they must be more careful in using the law. Therefore, Han Fei demanded that all independent economic freedom be deprived. Only when people lose their economic freedom will they become completely dependent on the royal power. "If the power cannot be tamed, then get rid of it." If the power cannot tame it, get rid of it! In Han Fei's eyes, people have no value of independent existence. People are just tools of the country and tools of power.

Han Fei believes that morality is utilitarian and practical. He insisted that all human actions are motivated by "profit" rather than morality. So he chose the cheaper method and completely abandoned the idea of ??moral governance. He does not mean that morality is bad, but that it is useless.

Han Feizi’s thinking is indeed very valuable, but the only regret is that he did not solve the problem of how to constrain the power of law enforcers. It is believed that unconditional obedience to the royal authority is the fundamental premise. In order to prevent people from being confused, Han Fei put forward suggestions to eliminate private schools. He hates private education, but he himself is the beneficiary of private education. Han Fei's suggestion was later implemented, which was to burn books and embarrass Confucian scholars.

Han Fei kept emphasizing benefit, but he died for righteousness. In order to preserve Korea, he made suggestions to the King of Qin. He also wrote an article "Speaking of Difficulties", expressing that he knew this was dangerous. Eventually, he was killed. This double-edged sword hurts myself.

When Sima Qian wrote about Li Si, he started by saying that when he saw a hamster, he lamented, "Whether a person is as good as a mouse, the key is to see where he is." This opening set the tone for Li Si. Became a rat. The pre-Qin scholars came to Han Fei and it was over. The age of the philosopher is over, and the age of the politician has arrived. Li Si is an excitable politician. It is said that when the news that Li Si became prime minister reached Xunzi's ears, Xunzi was not happy, but worried about Li Si. He knew the student's weaknesses.

Li Si is a typical opportunist who deals with the world with intelligence. He was a great and visionary politician who advocated the system of prefectures and counties, solved the problems of feudal princes, and ensured the realization of great unification. If the frustrated Han Fei is Hegel, then Li Si is Robespierre. His ambition was not in academics but in politics.

Li Si’s idea for Qin was assassination and bribery, in order to succeed, without any principles. After successfully helping Qin unify the six countries, this unprincipled policy evolved into more cruel measures. After Qin II ascended the throne, the twelve princes of Qin were beheaded and ten princesses were mutilated. Prince Gao even asked to be buried as Emperor Qin Shihuang. Li Si used this method to help the new king, so later generations said: Li Si's death in Qin, Zhao Gao was a toilet rat. Later, Zhao Gao, who had no bottom line than him, appeared. When Li Si found out that Zhao Gao might threaten his qualifications to be a rat. At that time, he chose to cooperate with Zhao Gao, but the villain disagreed. In the end, Zhao Gao killed all three of them. A year later, Zhao Gao forced the emperor to kill him, and in February, Xiang Yu entered the Pass, killed Ziying, and burned Afang Palace.

Zhang Liang was behind the Qin and Han Dynasties. Chief Director.

Zhang Liang is a son of a Korean aristocrat. Han was destroyed by Qin. Zhang Liang spent all his wealth to ask for help to assassinate the King of Qin. When Qin Shihuang traveled east, Zhang Liang and his warriors threw a big hammer to kill the first emperor. It was a pity that the deputy car was hit. Qin Shihuang was furious and vigorously searched for the assassin. When he was living in seclusion, Zhang Liang met an old man who threw his shoes on the bridge and picked up the shoes patiently, so he obtained the Taigong Art of War. Become a Taoist figure.

Zhang Liang found Liu Bang, just like the powerful man who found Bolangsha. It can even be thought that Liu Bang is just a tool for Zhang Liang's revenge, and he seems to have an equal dialogue with Liu Bang. The courtesy of a young ruler and his ministers. He can be called another king's teacher after Mencius.

Xiang Yu was always angry when Chu and Han were fighting. Only his father, Fan Zengshang, could not listen, but Liu Bangyu was very patient. The wise Zhang Liang followed his advice and finally won.

Zhang Liang had no interest in taking control of the country. His purpose was only revenge, which was already accomplished, so he almost stayed behind the scenes. Work as a consultant and give occasional advice. Finally, he may concentrate on practicing Taoism.

Jia Yi was a genius, but he was born in an era where genius was not needed. At the age of twenty-two, he was recruited as a doctor by Emperor Wen of Han Dynasty. He was the youngest among the doctors, but he was promoted to Taizhong doctor within one year. He put forward a large number of far-sighted political propositions: weakening the power of princes and kings, resisting the Xiongnu, advocating agriculture, and establishing a moral foundation... He wrote important works such as "On Guo Qin", "On Accumulation and Storage", "Six Skills" and "Concern for the People". With his ability, he can definitely join the ranks of China's first-class politicians. But it is a pity that even Emperor Wen was taken back as emperor by the founding heroes, and Jia Yi has not yet taken up all the speaking seats. It was useless to talk too much about these people, so when the two sides had conflicts, Emperor Wen had no choice but to put Jia Yi in Changsha as the Taifu of the King of Changsha.

Jia Yi already felt that he and Qu Yuan would have a relationship. However, four years later, Jia Yi was recalled to Chang'an and met with Emperor Wen. It's a pity that I sit down at the front table in the middle of the night and don't ask about the common people or the ghosts and gods. "This is a reflection of this conversation. Jia Yi proposed to cut down the feudal vassal in his life, and it was finally completed by Chao Cuo and his father Yan. Emperor Wen left Jia Yi to the next generation and asked him to be the tutor of King Huai. Unfortunately, King Huai fell to death while riding a horse. Jia Yi spent many days After crying, he lost his ambition.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty liked to talk big words, and he also liked to listen to people talking big words. So a man named Dongfang Shuo wrote a letter of recommendation to him, saying that he was very good. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. It was funny, and I thought he was really good at it, so I hired him and gave him a bag of millet and two hundred and forty pocket money every month.

Later, Dongfang Shuo felt bored, so he found a lot of dwarfs in the palace and told them that Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty wanted to kill them, and asked them to stop the Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty became angry when he heard this. Dongfang Shuo said: I am more than nine feet long, and I have a bag of millet every month. These dwarfs, who are three feet long, also have a bag of millet. They were starving to death, but I was starving to death. If you want to use me, treat me differently. If you don't use me, let me go. Emperor Wu laughed and asked him to keep him by his side.

Dongfang Shuo had this ability and could always make Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty laugh. For example, hitting the target repeatedly, getting to know Zouya, scolding yourself, etc. He served the moody Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty with humor and escaped unscathed. He was really a master. Finally, in his later years, Dongfang Shuo once advised Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty: I hope your majesty will stay away from cunning and sycophantic ministers and repel those who are prone to slander. Emperor Wu said: So you can also speak some serious words? After saying these serious words, Dongfang Shuo died.

Dongfang Shuo's cleverness lies in the fact that he knows that the era of "scholars" has passed and now is the era of "excellent". If you want your whole body, you can only appear next to the emperor in an excellent posture. Dongfang Shuo's "It's easier said than done" is a sentiment about the lessons of blood and a warning to the speaker.

Sima Qian is very different from other historians. He struggled with life and death with the people he wrote about, allowing us to see "living history." He did not continue the chronological system set by Confucius, but switched to the chronicle style. He wrote history so boldly because he valued people more than things. The emphasis on people's destiny and life course makes the characters in his paintings come to life.

When Sima Qian was young, he was a passionate pursuer of success, hoping to become a marquis and prime minister. When his father Sima Tan died, he entrusted him with the responsibility of writing history, so Sima Qian later took a salary cut and became the Taishi Ling. He knew his destiny was here. This is what you do. Just after he had worked for six years, Li Ling was defeated and captured, and the entire court unanimously condemned him. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty asked Sima Qian gloomily, "What do you mean?" Sima Qian expressed his plea for those innocent old women and children. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was furious and sentenced Sima Qian to death. The death penalty could be avoided with money or exchanged for palace punishment. Sima Qian had no money and no relatives or friends willing to help him.

He must have hesitated, survival or destruction? But in the end he chose castration because he still had important things to accomplish. He is 47 years old this year. Three years later, Li Ling's grievance was cleared and Sima Qian was released from prison. Around 90 BC, Sima Qian disappeared. Those who write history lose their end in history. In "Book of Ren'an", we can see Sima Qian's heartfelt expression that death is inevitable for everyone, and it may be lighter than a feather or heavier than Mount Tai. He wrote about the injustice he suffered and his accusation against Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. You must know that this letter was sent to Ren An in prison, and it was destined to be seen by the government. It can be believed that this letter is Sima Qian's final work. The big thing is over, no worries anymore!

Who else is in the book? The characters in this book include disciples of Zhongni, Chen Ping, Chao Cuo, Sima Xiangru, Dong Zhongshu, Zhu Maichen, Yang Xiong, Wang Chong, Li Gu, Liang Ji, eunuchs, party leaders, Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling, and Jian'an martyrs. , celebrities of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, Zhuge Liang, Kong Rong and Ni Heng, Cao Pi, Ruan Ji and Ji Kang, Yuan Kangzhiying, Tao Yuanming, Xie Lingyun.

Finally, it ends with a passage from the chapter about Ruan Ji and Ji Kang.