The videos I watched became popular in ancient times

Only when you have fulfilled your nature will you realize that there is nothing to gain in life and nothing to lose in death.

Those who know that death is not extinction can talk about nature.

Most of you and I are just passers-by, coming like a rain and leaving like a gust of wind, and in the end no trace is left.

But there is always a kind of people who become more and more courageous as they go through the storms in their life.

Eventually he transcended all living beings and became a sage.

"In the ninth year of Emperor Shenzong's Xining reign, the autumn wind blew over the Wei River, and Zhang Zai, who lived on the Hengqu Canal, wrote a book based on his life's learning."

"He, who has become famous in Guanxi, has told all his disciples."

"This is the result of his years of thinking, and his words are roughly in line with those of the previous saints."

"If there is a beginning, it will take time for later generations to learn from it before it can be extended to other areas."

"In March of this year, my brother Zhang Jian, who was also a Jinshi of the Song Dynasty, became the east wind on Hengqu."

"Zhang Zai cried so hard that he did not want to die. He wrote twelve elegies by hand and placed them in the tomb."

"When the autumn wind blew, he had a strange dream that seemed to foreshadow something."

"So he began to write a book day and night, and named it "Zheng Meng"."

"When writing a book, I sometimes sit in silence from dusk till dawn."

"Maybe, he's racing against time."

"Perhaps, he is establishing his mind for the world, establishing his destiny for the people, carrying on the lost knowledge of the past sages, and bringing peace to the world for all eternity."

“In fact, Zhang Zai wanted to write a book for the world and all eternity.”

"Because, although several emperors of the Song Dynasty wanted to work hard to govern the country."

“But the world Zhang Zai saw was still full of regrets.”

"In one year during the reign of Emperor Shenzong Xining, Guanzhong experienced a terrible year of famine, and cannibalism broke out among the poor people."

"That year, Zhang Zai stopped his family from pounding rice."

“So, the whole family ate coarse rice.”

"Zhang Zai believed that in an age when there were starving people everywhere, it was a shame to be able to have enough food, so how could one choose the rice to eat?"

"The topic of this meal was so heavy that Zhang Zai refused to eat, and this happened four times."

"Although, he has always been helping the disciples around him."

“When these people are in trouble, even if he has only coarse rice and simple food, he will definitely share with them.”

"But even if he kills himself, he only has a hundred acres of thin land."

“So, the best way to ensure that everyone in the world has enough food is to give everyone in the world land.”

"Or, as Mencius said, let us all respect the old and the young as well as those of others."

"Then, there will be no hunger, and the world will be a much better place."

"And to achieve this, we must educate the world and make everyone kind."

“To educate the world and enable more people to become saints, we must broaden their minds.”

“Then you will understand the world and finally achieve enlightenment after you have mastered the knowledge of the gods.”

“Therefore, only written books can pass on the saints’ thoughts to a farther time and space, and can help more people in the future.”

"Zhang Zai believed that people over fifty could see more clearly the principles of the world."

"Since the third year of Xining, he and the deeply obsessed Wang Anshi finally parted ways in Bianliang, and he returned west to Hengqu and began to live in seclusion at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain."

"For several years, he sat in a room in shabby clothes and simple food, reading with his head bent and thinking with his head raised."

“I would write down what I had learned, sometimes I would get up in the middle of the night, take a candle and write, I would study the truth with great concentration, never slacking off for even a moment.”

Zhang Juzheng: Zhang Zai wrote books and taught throughout his life, and was the master of the scholars in Guanzhong, known as Mr. Hengqu.

Set up the heart for the heaven and the earth, set the destiny for the livelihood and the people, for the sacred and inherited knowledge, and for the peace of the world.

Among Zhang Zai's spiritual heritage, these four famous sayings are widely circulated and are the essence of his thoughts.

Therefore, these four sentences are also called the Hengqu Four Sentences by contemporary philosopher Mr. Feng Youlan.

Zhang Zai lived in the Northern Song Dynasty, a special historical period - the period of Confucian revival.

He wrote many works throughout his life. Because he taught in Guanzhong, Zhang Zai's school of thought was called Guanxue.

After carefully studying "The Doctrine of the Mean", Zhang Zai also studied Buddhist thought seriously, and finally returned to Confucianism, forming a complete ideological system.

Hengqu's four sentences are concise and profound in meaning, revealing the majestic spirit of Northern Song Dynasty Neo-Confucianism and carrying the profound heritage of Chinese traditional culture.

Set up the heart for the heaven and the earth, set the destiny for the livelihood and the people, for the sacred and inherited knowledge, and for the peace of the world.

It respectively emphasizes the relationship between man and nature, man and society, man and man, and man and his inner soul.

These four sentences fully embody the Confucian spirit of benevolence and the feelings of heaven and earth. If self-cultivation, family regulation, governance of the country, and peace in the world are the personal ideals of Confucianism, then the four sentences of Hengqu are the Confucian ambition to serve the world.

Zhang Zai's thoughts not only have a foundational and pioneering status in Song and Ming Neo-Confucianism, but can also be viewed from the perspective of the entire history of Confucian thought.

Zhang Zai's thoughts have a grand ideological bearing, an innovative spirit that surpasses his predecessors, and a mission significance of turning the tide.

In the vast universe, although individuals are insignificant, everyone can follow the four sentences of Hengqu.

Throughout his life, Zhang Zai was summoned to Jin twice, served as an official three times, wrote books, and founded his own school of thought.

He lived in poverty all his life, and after his death he was too poor to afford a burial. It was only after his students heard the news and rushed over that they were able to buy a coffin for him.

When Mr. Hengqu was in power, he was an official who followed the law; when he was in power, he was a local celebrity. Through his practical actions, he opened up a new situation for Confucian scholars to take on responsibilities under the historical conditions at that time.

Set up the heart for the heaven and the earth, set the destiny for the livelihood and the people, for the sacred and inherited knowledge, and for the peace of the world.

This is the essence of Zhang Zai's thought. These four famous sayings are widely circulated in the new era.

“Perhaps this is an era of great literary talent, but it is also an era of tragedy!”

"Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu, Sima Guang, Wang Anshi, the three Su brothers, the two Cheng brothers, Zeng Gong, and Zhang Zai himself."

“Everyone is spending their entire life trying to create a more reasonable world.”

"Some are devoted to Confucianism, some are deeply involved in history, and some are dedicated to writing."

"But the world's operation is not subject to human will, and it is getting further and further away from the goals in their minds. Everyone's ideal is out of reach."

"In the second year of Xining, Zhang Zai, who represented Guanxue, and Wang Anshi, who created his own new school of thought, met in the court."

"In the end, after a clash, the two sides parted ways unhappily. It was not so much a matter of personality differences as it was a matter of differences in doctrines."

"That year, at the recommendation of the wise minister Lu Gongzhu, the 50-year-old Zhang Zai resigned from his post as military judge of Weizhou and went to Bianliang to accept the summons of Emperor Shenzong, who was eager to make progress and stir up trouble."

"He talked about how to govern the country, and told the emperor that if he ruled illegally for three generations, he would end up living in disgrace."

"Shenzong was very pleased, so he became a schoolmaster at Chongwen Academy, and it seemed that he would achieve great things."

"So Zhang Zai, who was clearly not on the same page with the new law, was sent to western Zhejiang to be in charge of the criminal justice system."

"Even though Cheng Hao, who was in the court at the same time, stood up and told Wang Anshi that Zhang Zai was recommended to the court because of his moral character and should not be ordered to govern the court."

"So this year, Zhang Zai, who had devoted most of his life to the study of benevolence, was finally ordered to go to western Zhejiang to kill people."

"And in the second year, Zhang Jian, the brother of Zhang Zai who had always been upright, finally offended Wang Anshi because of his uprightness and was expelled from the court."

"So, after seeing through the unreasonable court, Zhang Zai resigned and returned to Hengqu."

"In fact, Zhang Zai and Wang Anshi, as well as Sima Guang and Zeng Gong, were all of the same age."

"But in the tide of the times, they each took different paths."

"During the reign of Emperor Renzong, the Western Xia began to rise and became a powerful enemy of the country. Zhang Zai, who grew up in Qin, also felt the pressure brought to the people by the unrest in the western border."

"He was a man who prided himself on his achievements. Although he was knowledgeable in everything, he was particularly interested in talking about military affairs."

"Until he wanted to gather people to conquer the land west of Tao, he looked very much like Ban Chao who had grown up in his land many years ago."

"In the first year of Kangding, the famous minister Fan Zhongyan was appointed to the position of Tianzhang Pavilion Assistant Director and Yongxing Army Commander, and began to manage Shaanxi."

"Zhang Zai, 21 years old at the time, submitted a letter to the military tent in plain clothes."

"When Fan Zhongyan saw that he had an extraordinary bearing, he knew that he would have a future of great importance."

"Then, starting from that year, Zhang Zai devoted himself to studying Confucianism."

"After that, he read a wide range of Buddhist and Taoist books until the first year of Jiayou, when he entered Bianliang."

“Time will send away every young man in his prime, but only when middle age comes, perhaps we can see everyone’s true nature.”

"When Fan Zhongyan became a thing of the past, Zhang Jian, who went to Beijing to take the imperial examination, was already a middle-aged man with vicissitudes of life."

Li Qingzhao: When Zhang Zai was fifteen or sixteen years old, his father died of illness while serving in Fuzhou.

Zhang Zai carried the coffin through the Shu Road, crossed the Qinling Mountains from Xieyu Pass, and prepared to return to his hometown for burial.

After arriving at Hengqu at the foot of Mount Taibai, their money was all gone, and a mutiny broke out ahead, so they had no choice but to settle down in the beautiful area of ​​Beinian in the Qinling Mountains.

From then on, the outstanding people and beautiful scenery of Hengqu made Zhang Zai extraordinary.

While studying the Four Books and Five Classics, he also learned the art of war, hoping to join the army and recover the lost territories occupied by the Western Xia.

After taking the imperial examination, Zhang Zai, with the support of Prime Minister Wen Yanbo, sat on a tiger-skin chair in the Xiangguo Temple in Kaifeng and gave lectures on the "Book of Changes", which made him famous.

Recommended by Chief Censor Lu Gongzhu, Zhang Zai was appointed as a school teacher at Chongwen School.

Later, because of his different political paths from Wang Anshi, Zhang Zai resigned and returned to Hengqu.

He devoted himself to learning, recruited many students and gave lectures, leaving his footprints in Hengqu Academy. The Guan School he founded, along with the New School founded by Wang Anshi and the Luo School founded by the two Cheng brothers, were called the three major schools in the Northern Song Dynasty.

Zhang Zai studied here when he was young, and after he retired in his later years, he continued to set up a school and teach here.

In order to commemorate him, later generations changed the name of Chongshouyuan to Hengqu Academy.

Zhang Zai proposed important philosophical propositions such as "Taixu is Qi", "one thing has two bodies", and "the way of heaven is deified".

Politically, Zhang Zai advocated the revival of the rituals of the Three Dynasties and the restoration of the well-field system.

He used the four words "harmony between man and nature" for the first time in history and put forward it as an ideological proposition.

The Qi school in Song and Ming Neo-Confucianism was founded by Zhang Zai, and the Four Sentences of Hengqu had a far-reaching influence.

The value concept of establishing the mind for heaven and earth, the people-oriented consciousness of establishing the destiny for the people, the spiritual pursuit of inheriting the unique knowledge of the ancient sages, and the idea of ​​universal peace for all generations.

In fact, Zhang Zai still pays attention to practice.

In order to realize his ideal, Zhang Zai and his disciples purchased hundreds of acres of farmland in Fufeng, Chang'an and Lantian, and restored the well-field experiment in accordance with the "Book of Zhou".

Unfortunately, the tide of history is irreversible. Shang Yang abolished the well-field system and opened up fields to carry out reforms.

Read more latest popular novels at 6.9*shuba!

The well-field system and the feudal system had long lost their social basis for existence, and his dream ultimately failed.

"That year, when the three Su brothers, who also entered Tokyo, started a wave of ancient Chinese literature on the Bian River, sweeping the entire literary world."

"Zhang Zai, who had devoted himself to studying the classics for more than ten years, also gave a lecture on the Book of Changes on a tiger-skin chair in the capital."

"There were many listeners, and during one of the lectures, the Cheng brothers were also in the audience, and both Cheng brothers and Zhang Zai were experts in Neo-Confucianism."

"Although this may be the first time they meet, they are actually related by blood."

"Because Zhang Zai and Cheng Yi, the father of the two Cheng brothers, were cousins, Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi should actually call him their uncle."

"Thus, the source of Neo-Confucianism in the entire Song Dynasty was actually connected to one family."

"And they talked all night long, and from then on they became close friends in terms of academics."

"The next day, when the sun rose over Bianliang, Zhang Zai removed the tiger skin from the chair."

"Then, as an elder, he told the people who came with great generosity."

"Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi had a deep understanding of the Book of Changes, which he could not match."

“So, if you want to make further progress in your studies, you can take Cheng Er as your teacher.”

"In the spring of the following year, Ouyang Xiu presided over the Ministry of Rites' imperial examination."

"Su Shi, Su Zhe, Zhang Zai and Cheng Hao all became Jinshi."

"After this year, Zhang Zai began to enter the official career, but for many years he was stuck in the prefectures and counties. He was well-educated but had a low position, and his virtue and position were not commensurate with his status."

“Maybe everyone has their own aspirations and focuses.”

"Those who are more interested in seeking the truth will neglect their careers."

“So wherever Zhang Zai went, he would always look for talented people. If he found someone he could talk to, he would definitely teach him, fearing that his achievements would be delayed.”

"But after Renzong came Yingzong, and after Yingzong came Shenzong."

"It was not until the second year of Xining that Zhang Zai entered the court on the recommendation of Lü Gongzhu."

"Then, he met Wang Anshi."

"Then, he eventually withdrew from Bianliang because he didn't agree with the new law."

"Then, I continued to understand the truth, continue to teach, and continue to deify myself on Hengqu."

"A man of heaven, establishes the great foundation, rejects heterodox teachings, carries on the lost knowledge of the ancient sages, and brings peace to the world for all eternity."

"In the spring of the tenth year of Xining, after he finished writing Zheng Meng, he was summoned to Bianliang again to be the director of the Taichang Liyuan."

"In the winter, he fell ill and passed away."

"This time when he passed through Luoyang, he met Er Cheng again, and for the last time."

"At this time, 21 years have passed since they met in Bianliang to discuss the Book of Changes."

"Knowing his destiny, he told Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi that although he was ill, he could still go to Chang'an."

"When he arrived in Lintong, one night, he bathed, changed his clothes and went to sleep."

"When the sun rose from the horizon the next day, he had turned into a gust of west wind under Mount Li."

"The next day, all the people in Chang'an rushed to Lintong to mourn."

"They donated money to help, and then Zhang Zai was able to be buried."

"Zhang Zai has always believed that the reason why benevolent government cannot be implemented is because of the imbalance between the rich and the poor."

"Therefore, when he gets old, he plans to buy a piece of land with his disciples."

"Then we divide it into several wells and distribute them to the people in need around us, so that they can all have a stable life."

“If successful, it can be promoted to more places.”

"And this is his ideal of the legacy of the previous king, the well field!"

Xin Qiji: Zhang Zai was born into a family of scholar-officials. Both his grandfather and father served in the court. His grandfather Zhang Fu served as a senior official during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of Song.

His father, Zhang Di, served as Zhongcheng and Zhizhou of Fuzhou during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song Dynasty, and was posthumously awarded the title of Shangshu Duguan Langzhong.

Zhang Di died of illness while serving in Fuzhou. At this time, Zhang Zai and his brother Zhang Jian were still young and unable to return to their hometown.

Therefore, the whole family settled in Dazhengukou, south of Hengqu Town, Fengxiang, so scholars called him Mr. Hengqu.

When Zhang Zai was a teenager, the border of the Northern Song Dynasty was often invaded by the separatist forces of the Western Xia. The Western Xia invaded the border of the Northern Song Dynasty, and the Song army suffered repeated defeats in their resistance.

Fan Zhongyan was the governor of Yongxing Army, the deputy envoy of Shaanxi's economic development, pacification and recruitment, and the governor of Yanzhou. He summoned Zhang Zai to the Yanzhou military headquarters.

After Fan Zhongyan completed the construction of Dashun City in the northwest of Qingyang Prefecture, he asked Zhang Zai to write "Records of Dashun City in Qingzhou" to commemorate it.

The Northern Song Dynasty bestowed a large amount of wealth such as silver and tea on Western Xia, which was a great stimulus to Zhang Zai, who was not fond of talking about military affairs.

Therefore, he wrote a letter to Fan Zhongyan, who was the deputy envoy of Shaanxi and in charge of military affairs in the northwest region, suggesting that military force be used against Western Xia.

And he was preparing to contact some troops to conquer the western lands occupied by Western Xia in order to establish achievements for the country.

Fan Zhongyan believed that Zhang Zai could become a great man, so he encouraged him to read "The Doctrine of the Mean" and learn Confucianism.

After reading "The Doctrine of the Mean", Zhang Zai still did not feel satisfied, so he read Buddhist and Taoist books.

After several years of study, he discovered that the teachings of Buddhism and Taoism could not help him realize his grand ambitions.

Then he turned back to the Six Classics and realized the principle of complementarity between Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.

This promoted the new Confucian system founded by Han Yu, which was based on Confucianism and compatible with Buddhism and Taoism.

Zhang Zai was 38 years old at the time. He went to Daliang to take the exam. Ouyang Xiu was the examiner at that time, and Zhang Zai passed the exam and became a Jinshi.

While waiting for an imperial edict, Prime Minister Wen Yanbo invited him to give lectures and set up a tiger-skin chair in the Xiangguo Temple in Kaifeng for Zhang Zai to lecture on the Book of Changes.

At that time, Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao were still present. When Zhang Zai discovered that the two Chengs' insights into the "Book of Changes" were more unique than his own, he resolutely removed the tiger-skin chair and humbly asked for their advice.

When Zhang Zai was the magistrate of Yunyan County, he was conscientious in his work and strict in his policies. He attached great importance to moral education and promoted the social trend of respecting the elderly and caring for the young.

On auspicious days of each month, people would often set up wine and food to entertain the elders in the village, and ask them about the people's sufferings and how to discipline their children.

In order to make the proclamations issued by the county known to everyone, he often summoned the village heads to the county court.

Therefore, even illiterate people and children and teenagers knew the teachings he issued in advance, which facilitated the implementation of his policies.

In Weizhou, he had a good relationship with Cai Ting, the governor of Huanqing, and was respected and trusted by Cai Ting.

All military affairs, no matter how big or small, must be consulted with him.

He once persuaded Cai Ting to take hundreds of thousands of military funds to help the victims in the year of the disaster. He also proposed to dismiss the garrison troops and recruit local natives to replace them.

At that time, Wang Anshi was in power and was carrying out political reforms. He once sought Zhang Zai's opinion on the new policies. On the one hand, Zhang Zai agreed that politicians should do great things.

However, he implicitly refused to participate in the New Deal and had many disagreements with Wang Anshi, which gradually aroused Wang Anshi's disgust.

Therefore, Zhang Zai planned to resign from the position of schoolmaster of Chongwen School, but his resignation was not approved.

Soon after, he was sent to eastern Zhejiang to try Miao Zhen's corruption case, and returned to the court after the case was concluded.

Because he opposed Wang Anshi's reforms, he had a fierce conflict with Wang Anshi and was demoted.

Zhang Zai was afraid of being implicated, so he resigned and returned to Hengqu Town.

After Zhang Zai returned to Hengqu Town, he lectured and read all day long, wrote a large number of works, and summarized his academic achievements throughout his life.

During this period, Zhang Zai taught and accepted many students.

He used the ideas of "The Analects of Confucius", "Mencius", "The Doctrine of the Mean", "The Book of Changes" and "Laozi" as teaching content, and personally led students to carry out two practices: restoring ancient rituals and the well-field system.

Zhang Zai's lung disease was already very serious, but he still went to court while ill.

At that time, someone suggested to the court to implement the rituals of weddings, funerals and sacrifices, and the emperor ordered ritual officials to carry them out.

However, the ritual officials believed that the customs of the past and present were different and that the past rituals could not be implemented.

Only Zhang Zai thought it was feasible and criticized the actions of his opponents.

This put Zhang Zai in a very isolated position in the court, and as he was seriously ill, he soon resigned and returned to the west.

On the way back home, his condition worsened and he died in Lintong.

When he died, he had only one nephew by his side, and he was too poor to afford a burial.

It was not until Zhang Zai's students in Chang'an heard the news and rushed over that they were able to buy a coffin and transport the body back home. (End of this chapter)