Chapter 127: Confucianism
The atmosphere in the academy is very solemn. The influence of the Mohist disciples here is equally huge, and is no less powerful than that of the Confucian scholars.
Yang Sheng and Yang Zhu were discussing the Dao. Before they could speak, a Confucian scholar said, "Luoguo Academy is a place where philosophers spread the truth. 'Love all' and 'honor oneself' are like the conflict between water and fire. There is no room for reconciliation. Please, two wise men, clear up our confusion first."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Confucian scholars shouted, "Please ask the two wise men to solve the doubts of the people of the world."
Everyone had an excited expression on their face, and it was obvious that they were looking for trouble.
Ever since Mozi came to the Imperial Academy, Confucianism was suppressed and attacked. Especially after Mozi came out of seclusion, a group of non-Confucians emerged who pointed at Confucianism and cursed it, beating the main figures of Confucianism into a daze.
It is useless to argue stubbornly in Luoguo Academy. You have to use theory and words to silence the other party.
But this was not the most fatal point. What really made the Confucians dissatisfied with the Mohists was that the Mohists were respected as much as the Confucians in the Luo State.
In just two or three years, they surpassed the hundreds of years of accumulation of Confucianism, which completely angered the leaders of Confucianism.
Luo State was the private domain of Confucianism, the land of kingly way and paradise for Confucianism. Its capture was as much a blow to Confucianism as the capture of the country’s capital.
Confucian scholars could allow themselves to lose to Mohism among all the states, but not in Luo State!
If the Confucian scholars were not unable to defeat that group of burly Mohists, they would have even been ready to resort to full-scale fighting.
The only thing that could cause the Mohists to feel slightly humiliated in these years was the statement from the past that "the Luo family will not be king."
Taoism and Mohism have fundamental conflicts, so Confucianism has always been stirring up trouble between Taoism and Mohism.
Now that Yang Zhu had come into being, the Confucian disciples felt that they were about to succeed. Indeed, someone in the Taoist school had come up with a set of theories that were completely different from those of the Mohist school.
Although this theory runs counter to Confucianism, it is not important. What Confucianism wants to do most now is to defeat Mohism first.
Luo Huaichen, wearing Mohist clothing, knelt beside Yang Sheng and said, "I will not speak, so I will leave this debate to Yang Shengzi.
Those who can establish a sect are not simple, Yang Shengzi should be careful. "
As a Mohist, he should have stood up, but Luo Huaichen himself was skeptical about both universal love and non-aggression, so it was naturally impossible for him to participate in such a fundamental debate.
This was the first time Yang Zhu appeared in the academy, so naturally he had to explain his theory first.
Speaking of this, we must talk about why so many people come to the Luo National Academy to give lectures.
Because in the Luo Kingdom Academy, in addition to people from various schools, there are also quite a lot of commoners. It is equivalent to that Luo Kingdom has selected a group of people with good talents and clean backgrounds to sit in the academy. If you can conquer these people, you will become famous instantly, and you can even choose someone to inherit your mantle from them.
Yang Zhu's theory was very inspiring, especially the rebirth part. However, the point about valuing oneself did not cause the disturbance as expected, because this was in Zhaocheng, the center of Luo State, where universal love was the most popular.
Yang Sheng listened to Yang Zhu's story and began to ponder the Mohist debate technique in his mind, looking for flaws in Yang Zhu's theory.
When Yang Zhu stopped, Yang Sheng asked directly: "Yangzi, you said that you value yourself and rebirth, and you call on everyone to cherish their lives and protect their own interests.
Benefit the world without giving up a single hair!
A few years ago, the Hu people invaded the State of Yan, and 200,000 people in the northern border of the State of Yan suffered. In the end, it took the joint efforts of all parts of the State of Yan to expel the Hu invasion.
If everyone values themselves and is reborn, then how can the 200,000 people in the north survive between heaven and earth?
If the people in the north want to respect themselves and be reborn, the best way is probably to migrate south and leave their homeland, so that they don't have to face the swords of the Hu people.
If the people in the north do not leave their land, and the people south of Jicheng in Yan State value themselves, then the people in the north will not be able to save their lives.
Are they just going to die in vain?
Or do you want to promote self-esteem and rebirth among the Hu people?
The barbarians are violent and cannot accept the teachings of the sages. "
This sharp question made the Mohists' eyes light up. Yang Zhu broke people down into individuals, so he was bound to face a problem: without an organization, how could he fight against the organized barbarians!
If you want everyone to value life and value themselves, then you will have to face the turbulent situation in this world alone, because facing the Hu people may result in death.
If you, the people of Yan, are in danger, what does it have to do with us, the people of Qi and Luo?
I want to value myself and be reborn. I don’t covet your benefits, but you have to deal with your dangers yourself!
Should we help people we don’t know?
Yang Sheng felt that he had realized the principle of universal love from Yang Zhu's theory. He trembled with excitement and said, "When Duke Huan of Qi dominated the world, he used Qi's troops to help Yan.
According to your own view, this is wrong.
But during the war among the various states, Yan State resisted the northern Hu people, allowing Qi State to move its entire country out and avoid being invaded by the Hu people. This must be attributed to the continued survival of Yan State in the past.
The people of Qi helped the people of Yan, and ultimately the people of Qi survived.
This shows that only by loving the world and helping each other can we save one person with the power of the world, and ultimately save ourselves when we are in danger!
To love all is to value oneself, to love all is to be reborn! "
Luo Huaichen sat next to Yang Sheng and looked at him in surprise. He really didn't expect that Yang Sheng could deduce such a set of logic and directly dig out the roots of Yang Zhu's theory. It was too amazing.
When the Confucians listened to Yang Sheng's questions, they felt their scalps tingling. They always felt that something was wrong with this weird logic, but they couldn't put their finger on it. This was how the Confucians felt when facing the Mohists before, and now it was the turn of Taoist Yang Zhu.
Yang Zhu also frowned deeply. The theories of the various schools of thought were all created to solve the internal affairs of the various states of Xia. But whether it was Lao Tzu or Confucius, the scope of their vision would inevitably expand after they entered the treasury guarding room.
The same is true for Mozi. The biggest difference is that the classics began to include a lot of discussions about the relationship between Xia and Yi. This is why Yang Sheng directly used the Yi people to attack Yang Zhu.
Yang Zhu thought for a while and said, "Mohists advocate universal love, which is sacrificing oneself to benefit others. If Mozi had gone to Wu to stop the attack on Chu, and had died in Wu, then everything would have ended. Therefore, universal love is not self-esteem and rebirth. Yang Shengzi, you are wrong."
Yang Zhu was trying to refute the Mohists, while Yang Sheng was already caught up in his own logic and began to think at the same time. However, neither of them noticed that the Confucian scholar next to them was already extremely excited.
There is nothing wrong with Yang Sheng's theory, except that the Mohist concept of universal love does not work. However, the Confucian concept of differentiated love can also achieve the effect of unifying the world!
Confucian scholars recalled the ancient sage kings and the hegemons of the time, all of whom had united the nine states and brought peace to the world. They also thought of the distinction between Xia and Yi, and seemed to have found some theoretical basis for unification.
Yang Zhu thought of a weakness in Yang Shengzi’s words, “Yang Shengzi said that Qi aided Yan, and Yan eventually helped Qi and was able to survive.
But if Qi directly annexed Yan, the people of Qi would become the ones guarding Qi. Faced with the more powerful Qi, perhaps the Hu people would not dare to move south at all?
Then isn’t the non-aggression advocated by the Mohists harmful to people?”
Yang Sheng attacked Yang Zhu's self-esteem and rebirth, saying that they would harm others. Yang Zhu immediately counterattacked, saying that loving all would harm oneself, while non-aggression would harm others.
Academic debate involves not giving in and criticizing the opponent's core theory harshly.
As the Confucian scholar listened to Yang Zhu's theory, the confusion in his mind became less evident, and the path to ruling the world seemed to be right before his eyes.
The debate between Yang Zhu and Yang Sheng continued, but both sides kept giving examples around the fundamentals, but were unable to break through the other side's camp.
Instead, the Confucian scholar's eyes became brighter and brighter, and finally the two of them stopped the debate.
There is a clear distinction between black and white. Since we cannot refute each other in theory, we should defeat each other in reality.
Luo Palace.
The process of the debate between the two sides would naturally be presented to the Luo State Royal Office. Luo Qing flipped through Yang Zhu's theory and said with emotion: "There are more and more talented people in the world.
Taoism, Confucianism, Mohism and Legalism are all prominent schools of thought in the world. Now Yang Zhu's school of thought has emerged, which originates from Taoism but is different.
Mohism originated from Confucianism and was most opposed to Confucianism. Yang Zhu's words refuted Mohism. If all people in the world really "valued themselves" and "reborn" to the degree he imagined, then even the country and the monarch would no longer exist.
Yang Sheng is right about this. If the Xia people had no country, how could they resist the barbarians?
Does Yang Zhu still want to preach to the barbarians?"
Yang Zhu's theory made Luo Qing completely confused. Luo had never been so dissatisfied with a person's theory before. He even believed that Mohist's "universal love" could be reformed.
However, Yang Zhu's theory is too sophisticated and there is no room for reform. In today's world, it is bound to go to extremes.
In this chaotic place, Ji Zhao's figure was floating up and down. There was no light, no sun or moon, no flowers or trees. While he was sleeping, a mysterious consciousness was transmitted to Luo Chang's mind.
"!"
Luo Chang's expression suddenly became serious. He frowned and thought for a while, then said to Luo Qing: "Qing'er, start selecting clan members now and prepare to compile a great book called "Zhu Zi" (The Classics of Various Philosophers). It will include all the classics since Laozi and Confucius, and inform future generations."
————
Among the countless debates held in Luoyang Academy over hundreds of years, the contribution of the "Mo-Yang Debate" can still be ranked in the top ten.
Neither Yang Sheng nor Yang Zhu achieved complete victory in this debate, so neither of them was fully included in "Mozi" and "Yangzi".
However, in Confucian classics, this debate is described in great detail, of course with a critical narrative. Based on this, Confucianism proposed the theory of one king ruling the world, which is one of the foundations of its prosperity. - "A New Interpretation of Confucianism"
This chapter is just my own understanding, so I didn't let Mozi appear. It seems that there will be double monthly tickets at the end of December, so you can keep some.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
