From Under One Person: Sincere Journey Through the Heavens

The Da Xian was used for worshipping the Earth God.

The "Da Shao" is used for sacrificial rites to the four directions.

The Great Xia was used for worshipping mountains and rivers.

The poem "Da Hu" was used to worship Jiang Yuan, the ancestor of the Zhou dynasty.

The "Da Wu" was used to worship ancestors of the Zhou Dynasty.

While music and dance are often combined and called "music," choosing these elements for this occasion seems rather inappropriate.

But if we don't choose these options, and your Kong family loses, you might feel resentful. What should we do then?

Upon hearing this, Kong Yuru's breath hitched. Knowing that Jiang Liu was provoking him, he said, "Why not? The music of 'Yunmen' is used to worship the gods. It is natural music. All people are under the rule of Heaven, so they can listen to it."

"Been taught a lesson."

Jiang Liu cupped his hands in humility, his face full of modesty.

This unexpected turn of events left Kong Yuru at a loss, and she had nowhere to vent her anger. All she could do was ask, "I wonder what kind of music your Confucian Society is going to choose?"

“The Confucian Society is a new Confucianism, which is incompatible with the old Confucianism. Although it also respects heaven and earth, it places greater emphasis on the unity of heaven and man, and puts man first.” Jiang Liu smiled calmly, “Therefore it is a new music.”

"Oh? Created by Chairman Jiang?"

Kong Yuru became interested, but her tone was somewhat sarcastic.

Jiang Liu seemed oblivious to his meaning, and stated directly, "I am but a humble person, relying on my limited cultivation to travel through the heavens beyond, observing the vast universe, and studying the scenes of agricultural harvests throughout history, which inspired this new music..."

Well, to be honest, it wasn't my original idea.

It originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty, took initial shape in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and perhaps only fully matured in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. I have merely made some minor additions and modifications.

The saying "spiritually wandering to heaven beyond heavens"...

Kong Yuru naturally didn't believe it, thinking it was just Jiang Liu's way of deceiving the world. He reasoned that because Jiang Liu was good at business and had his own strength, he was different from other swindlers and fraudsters, and was able to build such a large operation. He said, "A gentleman is honest and doesn't talk big."

Since you created it, why bother with the idea of ​​gods and ghosts?

May I ask what kind of joy it is?

"Yang Le".

Jiang Liu stopped keeping him in suspense and told him the truth.

"Yang Le..."

Kong Yuru pondered for a moment, then seemed to realize something. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she exclaimed, "That deserves to be called music?"

What is Yang Le?

That's Yangko!

It has a history of over a thousand years since its birth and is quite widely known. It can also be found in its hometown of Qufu, Shandong!

Can this be considered happiness?

Confucian music emphasizes elegant and correct pronunciation, and carries on the mission of education.

But what about Yangko?

Even if it combines music and dance, it cannot be considered music!

“You old-fashioned Confucian scholars may not accept it, but we new-fashioned Confucian scholars will,” Jiang Liu said seriously.

"it is good!"

Kong Yuru laughed in anger. If there were no outsiders watching, he would definitely have cursed, but now he could only hold back, and in his heart he was once again certain:

Jiang Liu didn't take "Confucianism" seriously at all!

As long as the Confucian Association exists, the probability of the original meaning of the word "Confucian" being changed will increase!

and so!

The foundation of the Confucian Society must be destroyed!

We must not allow the Confucian Association to continue spreading the "Confucianism" as defined by Jiang Liu!

"Referees, please announce the start of 'Music'."

Kong Yuru reminded her.

"Wait a minute."

Zhang Enpu was about to speak, but before he could utter a single word, Jiang Liu interrupted him, saying, "The way of 'music' is nothing more than the two words 'refined' and 'vulgar.' I wonder if you two monks are experts in appreciating music?"

"when······"

Zhang Enpu stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence, realizing that Jiang Liu was setting a trap for him!

The 63rd Celestial Master of the Celestial Master's Mansion actually knew how to appreciate music...

Is he still a virtuous Taoist priest?

Even though the precepts of the Zhengyi sect are relatively lenient, if he were to say such things in public, the people outside might spread rumors and doubt whether he was a legitimate Taoist priest!

So he changed his tune, saying, "Of course not! How could a monk like me possibly know how to appreciate music?"

"I am a monk and I do not know how to appreciate music."

Ru Song smiled bitterly.

That bitter smile—

It wasn't that he lied. When it comes to appreciating music, he was usually accompanied by a dim lamp, so he could only appreciate the sound of bells. It wasn't a lie.

What troubled him was that Jiang Liu was "silent until he made a sound, then astonished everyone with his voice."

Although Jiang Liu had spoken in previous rounds, he was gentle and refined. But now he took the initiative, causing Kong Yuru to lose her composure and Zhang Enpu to go against his conscience.

How could someone who cultivates spiritual practice act like this?

The moment this thought crossed his mind, Jiang Liu's voice rang in Ru Song's mind, saying, "Elder, aren't you also secretly criticizing me?"

In an instant.

Ru Song's eyes widened in disbelief!

"Even the most compassionate Bodhisattva can be angry at times."

"Let alone me, a mere mortal?"

Every drink and every bite is preordained.

"The Kong family is vying for legitimacy, but I don't know if they are vying for the legitimacy of Confucius or the legitimacy of Dong Zhongshu after the suppression of other schools of thought. Thinking about it makes me laugh."

Only because Confucianism was founded by Confucius, and I established my school based on Confucianism, I feel indebted to Confucius, and that's why I'm willing to play house with them.

However, Zhixia's words were disrespectful, and Yuru, who was only an elder brother at the time, had no sense of responsibility as a successor of Confucianism!

Since there is a cause, there must be a result!

Those who cultivate themselves should cultivate a mind that is neither elated by external gains nor saddened by personal losses. But if one cultivates a mind that is neither able to retaliate when hit nor when insulted, then one is nothing more than a stubborn rock.

But the stubborn stone longed to be reborn, and so, due to the wind, it transformed into a stone monkey, wandering the human world!

# Chapter 1065 "A Tongue That Blooms Like a Lotus"

The sound of the river was deafening, like a lion's roar, so loud that Ru Song dared not ponder it any further and simply asked, "Then what does the chairman intend to do?"

Others, unaware that Ru Song had just been subjected to the Lion's Roar, also pressed Jiang Liu on how to appreciate it.

"Since we're having this competition in front of everyone, why don't we let everyone here watch and judge together?"

Although the sound was not loud, it reached the ears of everyone present, yet it did not carry the slightest trace of Qi flow, causing Zhang Enpu, Rusong, Kong Yuru, and others to be shaken to their core.

Zhang Enpu thought to himself, "Even a person of extraordinary talent wouldn't possess such supernatural power!"

Ru Song's eyes were filled with a strange look: "Could it be that you have already attained the state of emptiness of the five aggregates?"

Kong Yuru was even more shocked: "This ability is no less than the 'lotus flower tongue' supernatural power recorded in my Confucian books!"

The so-called "flower blooming on the tongue" means to apply one's talent to the root of the tongue and give a speech. Without using the ability of Qi to process it as a medium, one's voice can travel hundreds of miles without being noisy. It can clearly enter the ears of all listeners. In fact, the sound can even transform into the tangible phenomenon of a golden lotus.

If any listener understands the principles behind the lecture, they will be able to unite with the Golden Flower and cleanse their marrow!

However, to unleash the divine power of "eloquent tongue," it is not enough to simply cultivate talent; one must also cultivate literary courage... This is a divine power that only a sage can achieve!

Jiang Liu is already a sage like his ancestor Mencius.

No! No! Absolutely not! He possesses no talent whatsoever, and has never cultivated the path of talent before; he cannot be a saint!

[Confucianism is the foremost of the three religions!]

[Both Taoism and Buddhism once had exceptionally talented individuals who dared to challenge Confucianism for the title of the dominant school of thought, but ultimately they were defeated by Confucianism and sought only to live a carefree life in the mountains, never daring to contend with Confucianism in the court or among the common people again!]

Ultimately, it comes down to the Confucian tradition of the way of the sage!

Even the most accomplished Taoist and Buddhist masters throughout history relied on Qi (vital energy) to perform their magic; they could not create it out of thin air...

However, the Buddhist path, which cultivates the emptiness of the five aggregates, does grant abilities somewhat akin to the divine...

Could it be that Jiang Liu has cultivated the emptiness of the five aggregates?!

"it is good!"

A loud shout woke Kong Yuru, who was still pondering whether Jiang Liu had attained the state of emptiness of the five aggregates. Looking out, he saw the onlookers shouting in unison.

Just watching the show?

That won't do.

So Jiang Liu came up with a plan to get everyone on the street involved in this lively competition for the rightful place of "Confucianism".

After all, if this "orthodoxy" is truly won, it must be returned to the people, so how can they be allowed to stand aside?

"It's good, but how do we evaluate it?"

After the crowd outside quieted down at Jiang Liu's gesture, Ru Song secretly admired Jiang Liu's prestige, but also inquired about the corresponding rules.

It's impossible to expect everyone outside the venue to give a detailed analysis after the "entertainment" is over, right?

Most people at the scene did learn a lot of characters because of the Confucian Association's monthly "sermons and teachings" on the fifteenth of each month, but could they really appreciate the music?