I, the Ming Dynasty, can still save me

Chapter 543 New Confucianism

Although the term "investigating things to achieve knowledge" has a long history.

It is precisely because of its long history that its position in Confucianism is too important.

This word has been discussed and explained by later generations. It can be said that the great Confucians have their own explanations.But among these people, Zhu Xi of Neo-Confucianism and Wang Yangming of Xinxue still have the most classic explanations and the greatest influence.

Zhu Xi believed in Neo-Confucianism, which believed that Li was the origin of all things and that Li gave rise to all things.

It seems that I learned it from Taoism, but I just changed the name of "Tao" mentioned by Lao Tzu.

But no matter what, Neo-Confucianism believes that every thing in the world contains principles (laws), and things are composed of Qi (matter) plus principles (laws).

So what should Confucian scholars do to fully understand the truth?At the beginning, many Neo-Confucianists put forward their own opinions.

But in the end Zhu Xi found a way, which is called "investigating things to achieve knowledge".

The so-called "investigation of things" refers to exhausting the principles of things, understanding things through research, and thoroughly understanding the principles contained in them.

The so-called "reaching knowledge" refers to expanding one's knowledge and exploring all truths in order to reach the ultimate state of cognition.

In his view, since there are principles (laws) in every thing, then you should study the principles (laws) of every thing and study the principles of things to the extreme. This is "Guru Wu".

So how to investigate things? Just observe things.For example, see how a flower or tree grows, blooms, and bears fruit.

After observing for a long time, you will suddenly understand, and you will naturally understand the principles. As your understanding of the principles reaches the extreme, this is "knowledge".

And as long as you "reach knowledge", it means that you have realized the highest principle, and then you have mastered the principle of all things.

And when a person masters the highest principle and can connect himself with external objects, then this person will become a saint.

Therefore, in Zhu Xi's view, studying things to achieve knowledge is the way to become a saint!
Although this method looks good, it actually has a fatal flaw, that is, how do we know the principles (laws) of things?

Zhu Xi said it was necessary to observe, just to see.

But in Zhu Youxiao's view, this is absolute nonsense. Zhu Xi's method of studying things is more like an epiphany than observation.

And if you can't investigate things, it's not a problem with the method, but a problem with you. It's because you don't have enough skills. You need to cultivate your moral character and improve your moral cultivation before you can understand the truth of all things in the world.

Therefore, in Zhu Youxiao's view, this method of investigating things is completely unworkable, but many people believe it.

It wasn't until a person appeared who followed Zhu Xi's method to study things to gain knowledge, and found that it didn't work at all, that he discovered this fatal flaw.

This person is called Wang Yangming!
Wang Yangming was also a believer in Neo-Confucianism at first, and he was gifted and ambitious since childhood.

Therefore, after learning that "investigating things to gain knowledge" is the way to achieve sainthood, he made an agreement with his good friend Qian Dehong to go to Geting Bamboo.

Qian Dehong acted first. He observed the bamboos for three days. Not only did he fail to understand the principles in the bamboos, he actually made himself dizzy and fell ill.

When Wang Yangming learned about it, he was also unconvinced.I thought that this must be because Qian Dehong was too weak, so he went out of his way personally.

Unexpectedly, Wang Yangming meditated hard on the bamboo for seven days and seven nights, but nothing came out, and he also fell seriously ill.

This story is called "Ge bamboo in front of the pavilion".

From then on, Wang Yangming had doubts about Neo-Confucianism and found that this method did not work at all and was very difficult to implement.

Therefore, he continued to comprehend, and through Longchang Enlightenment, he put forward the theory of "investigating things to gain knowledge" of Xinxue.

To put it simply, Xinxue despises the investigation of things as too troublesome and does not require observation of things.

Instead, he directly tells everyone that the truth in the world is in each of our hearts and there is no need to search for it.

And studying things to achieve knowledge means doing things according to conscience, doing everything well, and making everything you encounter conform to your conscience.

Therefore, the process of studying things is to wash away the evil thoughts and selfish desires in the heart.If conscience is compared to a mirror, then the process of studying things is like cleaning the mirror.

Every time you do something according to your conscience, the selfish desires in your heart will be removed, and the mirror will be a little brighter.In the end, the selfish desires in your heart have been swept away, and your heart has regained its complete brightness. This is the study of things to achieve knowledge.

This method of studying things to achieve knowledge is much easier to implement than Neo-Confucianism, and it is also more popular and understandable, so it is easier to be accepted by the people.

But in Zhu Youxiao's view, isn't this just proper idealism?

The purpose of studying things to achieve knowledge is simply to prevent the influence of evil thoughts on oneself.

Therefore, Zhu Youxiao is not satisfied with these two answers to the study of things to achieve knowledge.Therefore, I wanted to take this opportunity to redefine the study of things to achieve knowledge and pave the way for future theories.

As the saying goes, "Study only knows the origin, and I have footnotes in all the Six Classics."

Since Zhu Xi and Wang Yangming can put forward their own opinions on the study of things and Zhizhi.

Then why can't he, a time traveler from later generations who has been baptized by the explosion of knowledge, not be able to put forward his own opinions?

Moreover, adhering to the thinking of later generations, he compared the explanations of the study of things to achieve knowledge in Neo-Confucianism and Xinxue, and felt that Zhu Xi's explanation of the study of things to achieve knowledge still made some sense, but the method was wrong.Investigate things, investigate things, why just observe and think about things?
What's the use of just observing, seeing, and thinking.

In his view, the process of investigating things is a process of understanding the laws of things.

Therefore, we should investigate and study, make bold assumptions, verify carefully, and conduct experiments step by step.

For example, if you want to check bamboo, you need to plant special bamboo trees to study and record its growth process and characteristics. You need to cut off the leaves and observe them. It is impossible to gain knowledge by standing by and watching.

Therefore, in Zhu Youxiao's view, the study of things to achieve knowledge cannot be achieved by self-examination, improving moral cultivation, or relying on philosophical talks, but must be done in a down-to-earth manner.

This is actually a bold assumption and a process of careful verification.

Isn’t this how modern science is done? So many modern scientific principles are obtained through this method.

This method is exactly what Zhu Xi and others ignored, and it is exactly what the current Confucian scholars and officials need.

That's why Zhu Youxiao put forward the proposition of "studying things to gain knowledge" and let Neo-Confucianism and Xinxue debate.

It's just that everyone present knows that Xinxue and Neo-Confucianism have different understandings of studying things to achieve knowledge, but they don't know that Zhu Youxiao wants to give a new interpretation to it.

So when they first heard what the emperor said, Ye Xianggao and others thought it was okay. They had no objections and immediately nodded in agreement.

"I will comply with the order, so I will make preparations under the themes of "Advancing the knowledge of the world" and "Studying things to achieve knowledge", and the location will be the Piyong Hall of the Imperial Academy."

"Well, as Aiqing said, the matter is settled."

Seeing what Ye Xianggao said, Zhu Youxiao also nodded with satisfaction, and he suddenly felt very good about Ye Xianggao.

Seeing that the matter was over, Zhu Youxiao was in a good mood. He then looked at Liu Yisui, Sun Shenxing and others who were standing respectfully with their hands down.

These people didn't agree very much with this matter and even expressed their opposition in their words, but Zhu Youxiao didn't want to argue with them now.

"The purpose of this debate is to settle the dispute between Neo-Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism. Since our court respects Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, why should we be afraid of Neo-Confucianism? As long as we debate more and win the Neo-Confucianism, it will explain the difference between Neo-Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism." Gao Ming, dear friends, please think more about it."

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Liu Yishen and others, and then ignored them. Instead, you turned to Wang Boyu behind you and said:
"That's it for today. It's getting late. Let's go back to the palace."

Liu Yishui, Sun Shenxing and others originally wanted to persuade him, but seeing the emperor's behavior, they could only agree.All they could do was kneel down and say:

"I will respectfully send the emperor back to the palace!"

Zhu Youxiao nodded, and then Liu Zongzhou and others led the way, followed by Liu Yishen, Ye Xianggao and others.After returning to the archway on Wenqu Street, Zhu Youxiao gave Liu Zongzhou a few more instructions and asked everyone to drive back to the palace.

On the way back, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief, and his mood suddenly relaxed a lot.

Although things today have many twists and turns, the reform of Confucianism has finally made a lot of progress.

In his heart, neither Neo-Confucianism nor Neo-Confucianism is satisfactory. Its development is full of shortcomings and is no different from the development of the Ming Dynasty.

Even further, the demise of the Ming Dynasty in history has a certain relationship with the false talk of these two theories.

That's why Zhu Youxiao took such action and put forward the two debate topics of "investigating things to achieve knowledge" and "managing the world for practical application".

In Zhu Youxiao's view, these two sentences are actually combined into one, self-contained system, and they are the core content and cornerstone of his Confucian reform.

He does not like and does not want the current Confucian scholars to only talk about character and harm the country. He also does not like that they only talk about moral integrity and do not do practical things.

Rather, I hope that they will first understand and practice "investigating things to gain knowledge", learn the style of investigation and research, and observe, learn, and study book knowledge and the principles of the operation of all things in a down-to-earth manner.

Then "practice the world and apply it", and then put the great principles and useful knowledge in the book into practice and truly practice it.

His purpose in doing so was to transform the old Confucianism that was only talking about empty talk and integrity into a new Confucianism that could learn to investigate and research, actively explore laws, be scientific, and emphasize morality and hard work.

Zhu Youxiao thought of this, clenched his fists, and secretly made up his mind.

Although he knows that this process is extremely difficult and may encounter various resistances and difficulties.And this process is not accomplished overnight, it requires continuous effort.

But Zhu Youxiao is not afraid. Since he can come to this world, he will never give up this opportunity.

Because he didn’t want the humiliation China suffered to happen again, and he didn’t want Westerners 200 years later to label China as ignorant and backward as soon as they heard about China or Confucianism.

If it doesn't work in one year, do it for five years. If it doesn't work for five years, do it for ten years. If it doesn't do it for ten years, do it for 30 years. If it doesn't work for 30 years, do it for 60 years. If it doesn't work for [-] years, do it for [-] years. If it doesn't work for [-] years, do it for [-] years. If it doesn't work, let your descendants continue to improve.

He will never give up until he fails!

　The bag-dropping is finally over. These few pictures are a bit too theoretical, but they are somewhat important to the subsequent scenes, so I have to write them down. Please forgive me.

　　In addition, the updates in the next three days may fluctuate. My girlfriend’s mother is coming, so I have to entertain her well.Try to update as soon as possible,

　　
　
(End of this chapter)