Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 319 Keep everything simple!

Finished my morning tea.

Xia Zhibai stood up and walked towards the palace.

He wanted to go and see how the scholars in the Hanlin Academy were doing with their book editing after he left.

When Xia Zhibai arrived at the Hanlin Academy, most of the Hanlin scholars had already arrived. As scholars engaged in research, these people were undoubtedly very qualified. They spent almost the entire day immersed in the sea of ​​books, never putting their books down. If there was not a mountain of books piled up on the table in front of them, it would be difficult for them to gain a foothold in the Hanlin Academy.

Xia Zhibai's arrival was quickly noticed.

Many scholars who were busy organizing books rarely raised their heads and glanced at the study where Xia Zhibai was, but they only glanced a few times and then buried their heads in the sea of ​​books again, as if they were not very interested in Xia Zhibai's return.

Only a few people care about it.

Huang Zhang put down the book in his hand, glanced coldly at the location of Xia Zhibai's study, a hint of coldness flashed across the corner of his mouth, and he said sarcastically: "If he is really a university scholar, he will do things differently. If it were us, we would not dare to come back so hastily without completing the work."

Dong Guan smiled and said, "That's unspeakable."

"I'm in high spirits right now. The emperor's grace is so great. Didn't you hear that I went straight to the palace to see him as soon as I got back?"

"I just don't know what he's going to do to us this time when he comes back."

"Ugh."

"We are well-educated and knowledgeable, but we can only sit in the sea of ​​books and have difficulty in displaying our talents and ambitions. Let Xia Zhibai, a fraud who steals the reputation, stay in the government. It really shows that the world is going downhill."

"."

Huang Zhang, Dong Guan and others were filled with jealousy.

Isn't Xia Zhibai's special treatment now what they have always dreamed of?

It is rare that they have no complaints in their hearts.

After returning to his desk, Xia Zhibai asked the clerk beside him to call Fang Xiaoru and Liu Sanwu.

Fang Xiaoru and Liu Sanwu are representative figures of the Hanlin Academy.

One is highly respected, the other is famous.

The two of them can be regarded as the two banners of the Hanlin Academy.

After a while, Fang Xiaoru and Liu Sanwu arrived. Seeing Xia Zhibai, who was a little thin, they didn't dare to be too presumptuous. They bowed respectfully to Xia Zhibai, and then waited for Xia Zhibai to speak.

Xia Zhibai didn't care either.

He knew that Fang Xiaoru and Liu Sanwu disliked him.

He didn't want the two of them to like him.

Different road non-phase plan.

His ideas were very different from those of Confucian scholars like Fang Xiaoru and Liu Sanwu, and could even be described as worlds apart. If this difference in concepts were placed in later generations, it would be heresy, and they are incompatible. Only because the Chinese advocate the doctrine of the mean can they barely coexist, but it is also unlikely to live in peace.

At most, you don't offend me and I don't offend you.

The water from the well does not interfere with the water from the river.

Xia Zhibai said: "The two scholars were called here mainly for one thing."

"Edit a book."

"It has been more than a month since I left the Hanlin Academy."

"I wonder how the book editing process is going. Have you encountered any difficulties or any controversial issues?"

"You two might as well speak frankly."

Fang Xiaoru bowed and said, "We compiled the 'Yu Shu' according to your wishes, but later on we had a dispute. Should the articles in the book be easy to understand or should they be more literary? Also, according to your opinion, mathematics should be based on the excellent works summarized by all dynasties. However, some conclusions are contradictory and difficult to understand. Is it a bit too much to force them in?"

"For example, the 'Hui Yuan Shu' in the 'Meng Xi Bi Tan' compiled by Shen Kuo in the Song Dynasty is an approximate formula, so the result obtained is naturally biased. However, the arithmetic advocated by adults must be accurate and correct, which is contradictory in itself."

"In addition, there are so-called magnetism and optics." "Some of the concepts in them, such as 'magnetic declination', 'obstruction', and 'sound resonance', are very difficult for us to compile into textbooks. Besides, there are probably few people in the world who can teach relevant knowledge."

“There are countless examples like this.”

"We think your idea is too unrealistic."

“That’s too unrealistic.”

"I don't deny that your intention to unify the world is good, but the current reality does not allow it."

"The Ming Dynasty doesn't have so many 'capable people', nor so many comprehensive 'teachers'. If these textbooks were really spread, I'm afraid ordinary scholars would have to study hard for three to five years, let alone ordinary students who don't have a basic knowledge of literacy?"

Xia Zhibai nodded.

The issues raised by Fang Xiaoru are very real.

For a long time, scholars in the world have mainly studied "books of sages", and there are very few who are truly proficient in arithmetic and astronomy. These people generally cherish their knowledge to themselves and rarely teach others. His integration is equivalent to delegating all this knowledge to the lower levels.

This is a huge amount of knowledge, which is no less than starting over from scratch.

Xia Zhibai said: "Mr. Fang is right, but difficulties are inevitable. I would also like to share my opinion. As for articles, they should be easy to understand. After all, they have a lot to learn. If they are too literary and pay too much attention to rhetoric, it would be putting the cart before the horse."

“The article is mainly simple and plain.”

"And about arithmetic, miscellaneous studies, etc."

"My idea is very simple. If it is difficult to understand, then change the way of saying it, use words that the public can understand and easily accept, simplify and abbreviate some words. In the initial stage of learning, you don't need to care whether it is completely accurate, you just need to focus on cultivating your thinking."

“Keep everything simple in teaching materials.”

“We should not only simplify things, but also actively simplify them.”

“Simplifying complex things and popularizing simple things will make them easier for people to understand. If a concept is so obscure and difficult to understand, perhaps there is something wrong with the description of the concept itself.”

“And there’s not just one definition.”

"Beginners should use a common one."

"Once you have really learned it in depth, you can use precise descriptions."

"First, reduce the difficulty of learning."

Fang Xiaoru frowned, looking displeased.

Doesn't Xia Zhibai's words mean that a lot of things have to be started over again?
Xia Zhibai also saw Fang Xiaoru's reluctance, and said earnestly: "Education cannot be sloppy, careless, or negligent. It must be done with extreme caution. Only when everyone from the court to ordinary students can accept it, can we shoulder the heavy responsibility of educating the world."

"As officials of the imperial court, how can we give up halfway?"

"I'm sorry to bother you all with your hard work."

Xia Zhibai bowed slightly to the two of them.

See this.

Fang Xiaoru's expression eased slightly.

Although I was not happy about it, I couldn't refute it.

Besides, the matter has already been decided. Even if he objects, how far can he oppose?

Eventually you have to continue.

Fang Xiaoru said, "Then let's follow the Grand Secretary's advice. However, if we do this, I'm afraid the textbook won't be published for several years. The workload is huge, which is tantamount to compiling a great book."

Xia Zhibai smiled and said, "Time doesn't matter."

“Just ensure quality and quantity.”

(End of this chapter)