radicalducati Chapter 96 Test
Chapter 96 Test
Chapter 96 Test
It's just that Hai Wenqing didn't hold a grand ceremony; otherwise, the apprenticeship process would have been much more complicated.
Simplicity has its advantages; once you've kowtowed, the job is done.
Hai Wenqing looked at the student in front of him and said solemnly, "Now that you have become my disciple, I have a few words that I hope you will remember."
"Please enlighten me, teacher!" Wang You bowed and said.
"A teacher is one who imparts knowledge and resolves doubts."
Hai Wenqing said, "I have no other requirements for you. I only hope that you can be strict with yourself, lenient with others, and not do anything immoral."
"The student will certainly remember the teacher's instructions," Wang Youying replied.
"Um.
""
Hai Wenqing nodded in satisfaction and said, "Let me introduce you to some of my teacher's friends. You already know Shutong, so I won't introduce him."
Although Hai Wenqing said he wouldn't introduce her, Wang You still bowed respectfully.
"This is Mei Yaochen, courtesy name Shengyu. He is currently serving as a lecturer at the Imperial Academy and is very knowledgeable," Hai Wenqing introduced.
"I have seen Mei Zhijiao!" Wang You bowed respectfully.
"Hehe, Baekhyun and I are good friends, there's no need for such formalities. I'm probably a little older than your father, so if you don't mind, just call me Uncle." Mei Yaochen said with a smile.
"Uncle!"
Wang You readily accepted good advice. Although Mei Yaochen's official rank was not high, his status in literature was quite high.
If he wants to develop a new theory, he needs not only help but also support.
Next, Hai Wenqing introduced Wang Anshi to Wang You.
Upon hearing the name, Wang You was slightly taken aback, but quickly bowed and showed no sign of surprise.
After exchanging greetings, Ouyang Xiu and the others presented their own gifts.
They came to observe the ceremony, and naturally, they couldn't come empty-handed, so they all prepared gifts for Wang You.
Ouyang Xiu presented a piece of top-quality Shexian fruit, while Mei Yaochen presented a purple-tipped writing brush.
Wang Anshi presented Zengzi with a piece of his own calligraphy, a copy of the Analects, Book 1, Chapter 1: "I examine myself thrice daily—have I been disloyal in serving others? Have I been untrustworthy in dealing with friends? Have I neglected to practice what I have been taught?"
In comparison, Wang Anshi's calligraphy is definitely the least valuable.
Although Wang Anshi is somewhat famous now, he is not that famous.
As for his calligraphy, it's worth even less.
However, this was a token of goodwill. Wang Anshi came from a poor family and was an honest and upright official, so he was considered quite poor.
Although the salaries of Song Dynasty officials were not low, it was only relative.
He didn't hold a high official position before, and he had a wife and children to support. He also resigned from his post to take care of his grandmother at home, so naturally he didn't have much money to buy gifts.
If you can't afford the expensive ones and the cheap ones aren't presentable, you might as well write your own calligraphy; that would be more elegant.
After receiving the gifts, there's one last step: the assessment.
When a student becomes an apprentice, those of higher status among the onlookers will test him with questions.
Firstly, it's a bit of fun, and secondly, it gives the students who become apprentices a chance to make a name for themselves.
This is also why many friends are invited to witness the apprenticeship ceremony.
This not only lets them know that they have taken on a student, but also provides the student with a stage to make a name for themselves.
With these people praising it afterward, they can quickly become famous.
However, these kinds of questions are usually not too difficult; they are generally questions that have some depth but are not too hard.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be helping them gain fame, but rather making enemies.
Wang You didn't need these things, and Hai Wenqing didn't want any trouble, so they didn't hold a big event.
But the testing phase is still necessary.
"Shutong, shall we do it, or shall we?" Mei Yaochen asked with a smile.
As for Wang Anshi, they overlooked him, not because they were arrogant, but because Wang Anshi's status was somewhat special.
Wang Anshi was recommended to Ouyang Xiu by Zeng Gong, and through Ouyang Xiu, he met Hai Wenqing and Mei Yaochen.
If you really think about it, he's a junior.
But he was not young either, already over thirty, not much younger than Ouyang Xiu and others.
He was much older than Zeng Gong.
Moreover, his talent was recognized by figures like Ouyang Xiu, who did not treat him as a junior but rather as an equal.
But in situations like this, he couldn't compete with Ouyang Xiu and the others.
"I've met Ziqian a few times and know a bit about his scholarship, so you should do it," Ouyang Xiu said with a smile.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony."
Mei Yaochen looked at Wang You and smiled, "Only today do I realize that the four sentences circulating outside, which are called wise words to awaken the world, actually came from your mouth."
I have also benefited greatly from reading these four lines.
However, although these four lines are full of profound meaning, they are too vague. Many people read them but do not know how to act in order to establish a heart for heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the people, continue the lost learning of the past sages, and bring peace to all generations.
Many people don't even understand what it means to establish one's mind, establish one's destiny, continue lost learning, and achieve peace.
Since these four lines came from your mouth, do you have any explanation for them?
Ouyang Xiu frowned slightly, feeling that Mei Yaochen was being too difficult.
Even the viewpoints and ideas mentioned in the books of sages and saints are not elaborated in detail.
The most representative of these is the idea of Great Harmony.
The ideal of Great Harmony is very simple: the elderly have support, the young are cared for, and farmers own their land.
It seems to describe how to achieve universal harmony, but that is merely a description of universal harmony.
How to ensure that the elderly have support, the young are cared for, and farmers have land is not mentioned.
There are many more examples like this in Confucianism.
The four lines Wang You mentioned were indeed somewhat vague, but their intellectual depth was undeniable.
Ouyang Xiu believed that thought and reality should be distinguished.
Setting high standards for thought and morality provides direction for future generations to strive for and progress.
Otherwise, if it were so easy to achieve, wouldn't everyone be a saint?
However, this was a private test, and although it was somewhat difficult, it wouldn't affect Wang You.
Therefore, he didn't stop him, but instead looked at Wang You curiously, wanting to see how he would respond.
Wang You pondered for a moment upon hearing this and said, "I admit that these four sentences are indeed somewhat vague. I have thought about the standards, but in the end I still feel that there should be no standards."
"Oh?"
Mei Yaochen became interested and asked, "Why shouldn't there be standards?"
"Students believe that ideas should not be fixed, and these four sentences have different definitions in different periods."
To establish a moral compass for heaven and earth is too grand a goal, and as a student with limited knowledge, I will not presume to offer my opinion.
To establish a purpose for life can be understood as assisting a wise ruler to end the chaos during times of great turmoil, and as enabling the people to live in peace and prosperity during times of peace.
When the people live in peace and prosperity, they can also be educated and enriched spiritually.
"Spiritual abundance?"
Mei Yaochen pondered for a moment and said, "When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they are well-fed and clothed, they know honor and shame?"
"That's right, that's exactly what I mean," Wang You nodded.
Mei Yaochen nodded, signaling Wang You to continue.
"To continue the lost learning of the sages" can be simply understood as inheriting the thoughts and doctrines of the sages and maintaining cultural heritage.
Throughout history, countless books have been destroyed and lost to the annals of time for various reasons.
Ultimately, it's because many people are too attached to passing down their knowledge and literature, clinging to their possessions to the point that many books are unique copies, and once damaged, they are completely lost.