245. Lessons at the Prefectural School (Part 2) (Page 1/2)
After Cui Xian finished speaking, silence fell outside the Kaifeng Prefectural School.
Countless young eyes stared at the young headmaster sitting on the ground, their light almost blinding.
It must be acknowledged that there is a type of person in this world who naturally possesses a certain unparalleled charm.
A few words can touch people's hearts and conquer them silently.
A moment later.
The student who had asked whether revising textbooks would affect his future stood up excitedly, bowed deeply to Cui Xian, and solemnly said, "I have learned a great deal."
This clear and resonant remark, like the sound of a gavel, suddenly rippled through the silence of the entire hall.
The students, who had been still immersed in shock, seemed to have been awakened by these words—
They rose up one after another like a gust of wind sweeping across wheat fields.
Without any command, everyone straightened their clothes and bowed deeply to the young figure in front of them.
"Student, I have learned a lot."
This is Cui Xian's first lecture after he came down the mountain to give lectures.
This first lesson did not teach a single word of scripture, nor did it solve a single problem.
But like a thunderbolt splitting the chaos, it lit an inextinguishable lamp in the hearts of countless young students.
beside.
Cen Hongchang, Zhou Xiang, Ye Huaifeng, Yu Chu and other officials watched this scene in a daze, remaining silent.
Cui Xian accepted the greetings from the students of the prefectural school with a smile and composure.
then.
He gestured for the students to sit down, his eyes and brows full of gentle smiles: "Since you students have shown me the proper respect as disciples, I am forced to reveal some of my most treasured knowledge and skills."
Upon hearing this, the students present immediately erupted in thunderous cheers of surprise.
With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, they, who had already been given leave, willingly returned to the prefectural school to clean and prepare for Cui Xian's arrival.
What is the picture?
It's not that I'm just hoping to get guidance from Cui Xian!
The provincial examination is imminent.
Solving one more difficult problem now could lead to a bright future!
After a brief discussion, the students unanimously elected an older and more prudent classmate to step forward and ask for their guidance.
The student's temples were already gray, and his face bore the marks of time.
However, he was extremely respectful, bowing to Cui Xian as a disciple and saying, "I have a question, and I would be grateful if the headmaster could answer it."
With a smile on his lips, Cui Xian calmly extended his right hand, displaying the magnanimity of a senior teacher: "Ask away, please."
The white-haired student asked accordingly, "May I ask the Dean, Mencius said: 'From Yao and Shun to Tang, more than five hundred years have passed. As for Yu and Gao Yao, they knew it by seeing; as for Tang, they knew it by hearing.' Can we discuss how Yu, Gao Yao, and Tang knew the way of Yao and Shun by seeing and hearing?"
Mencius also said: "Yi Yin delighted in the ways of Yao and Shun." The Doctrine of the Mean said: "Confucius followed the example of Yao and Shun." Is there any similarity or difference between Yi Yin's delight and Confucius's following the example, and those who have seen and heard about it? Let us investigate their explanations.
This is a very typical, yet very complex, question involving the interplay of classical texts and historical records.
Not only are the concepts abstract, but the relationships are also extremely complex.
It involves references from many sages and virtuous figures.
At first glance, it seems completely fragmented, making it difficult to grasp the key points and find a way to solve the problem.
No wonder it left the scholars of the prefectural school helpless.
Therefore, after hearing the question, Cui Xian raised an eyebrow.
Even the Henan provincial education commissioners, such as Yu Chu, Cen Hongchang, and Zhou Xiang, who were "standing to listen to the lectures," subconsciously looked thoughtful.
Don't tell me, you really shouldn't tell me.
This question is pretty tricky!
Just as Yu Chu, the Henan provincial education commissioner, was deep in thought.
He heard the headmaster of the juvenile dean, who had been giving him the silent treatment, suddenly smile and call his name: "Well said!"
"Apart from this academy, all the officials present today are Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) from both the provincial and metropolitan examinations, and their knowledge is profound."
"How dare our academy claim all the credit? We request that the academic administrator first instruct the students and provide guidance on how to solve these problems. What do you say?"
Yu Chu, who was suddenly called out, was startled and hurriedly looked up, only to meet Cui Xian's gaze, which was full of smiles but did not reach his eyes.
Perhaps he already had something to hide.
Therefore, Yu Chu was extremely uneasy at this moment.
He had no idea what Cui Xian was up to.
But one thing is certain: the other party has ill intentions.
This situation absolutely requires careful handling!
Under the watchful eyes of Cui Xian and a group of students from the prefectural school.
Yu Chu coughed lightly, then smiled apologetically, "With the headmaster here, your knowledge is as vast as the sea. How dare I speak such shallow opinions, lest I become a laughingstock?"
Cui Xian narrowed his eyes and said, "As the academic administrator, it is our duty to lecture and discuss the Dao today and to resolve the doubts of the students. This is also our top priority at this moment."
"The students in the room are all standing at attention, waiting for you to demonstrate your knowledge and correct any misconceptions. To remain silent would not only be a dereliction of duty to those present, but also a disservice to the very word 'lecture'."
"Please speak now."
That sounds polite... well, it doesn't sound polite at all.
Because I was really being very impolite.
This is clearly a student asking Cui Xian a question.
Now, however, it has become a public examination of teaching politics by Cui Xian.
This is targeting me, isn't it?
The academic official was furious and wanted to take a hard line and refuse to 'speak'.
But he was only angry for a brief moment before continuing to smile through his tears: "What the headmaster said is absolutely right."
"This question focuses on the inheritance of Confucian tradition and consists of two parts."
The first question quotes Mencius to explore how the two ways of perceiving the Way of the Sages—Yu, Gaotao, and Chengtang—demonstrate the inheritance of the same "Way of Yao and Shun."
The second question combines Mencius and The Doctrine of the Mean to inquire whether the attitudes of Yi Yin’s “enjoying the way of Yao and Shun” and Confucius’s “following the example of Yao and Shun” are essentially the same as “seeing and knowing” and “hearing and knowing”.
"Therefore, I would like to propose the following solution: the lineage of the Way is passed down, there are differences in what is seen and heard, but no difference in the mindset."
At this point, Yu Chu subconsciously glanced at Cui Xian.
Then he realized with embarrassment—
As a provincial education commissioner, I felt like a student answering questions in class, afraid of being called out for mistakes by the teacher!
This is outrageous!
As an educational official, he was not afraid of anything related to the imperial examination system!
Yu Chu quietly straightened his back, his tone becoming much more confident: "The topic is: Those who have knowledge are like Yu and Gao Yao, who personally experience it and understand its wholeness; those who have knowledge are like Tang, who remotely understand it and grasp its essence."
"As for the music of Yi Yin and the writings of Confucius, they were all deeply accomplished and self-satisfied, continuing the tradition of knowledge and learning."
Perhaps fueled by anger, Yu Chu performed exceptionally well.
I think I solved this problem very well.
As soon as he finished speaking, not only the students present, but also some of the officials standing nearby listening to the lecture couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
It has to be the Academic Affairs Officer!
That's skillful!
Yu Chu felt confident again, and even looked at Cui Xian with a hint of provocation: "What do you think of my humble opinion, Headmaster?"
Cui Xian gave a disdainful smirk: "Not very good."
The air seemed to freeze at that moment.
Yu Chu: ?
He almost couldn't hold back his smile.
The students of the prefectural school could hardly believe their ears.
Those officials who praised Yu Chu were extremely embarrassed.
Cui Xian looked at Yu Chu and reprimanded him: "Your Excellency, the Academic Commissioner, have a lofty theory of 'the mind and method are not different,' which sounds profound at first but is empty upon closer examination. You haven't even figured out where the 'consistent guiding star' is, yet you dare to teach others about 'the system'?"
"This is like a blind man holding a candle; not only can it not illuminate the way, but it can also easily lead future generations into a deep pit of fog."
“If scholarship stops at such superficial talk, it is a worry for the academy and a disaster for the students.”
Yu Chu was so scolded he was dumbfounded.
You can target my character!
But you can't question my knowledge!
No means Chuzhou rebuttal.
Cui Xian looked at Zhou Xiang: "Lord Zhou, come here."
Good heavens!
Is it that exciting?
So it turns out that it's not the students asking the headmaster for advice right now.
Was it the headmaster calling out names one by one in front of the students, testing the knowledge of the high-ranking officials from Henan?
A group of students followed the headmaster's gaze and looked in unison at the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, Zhou Xiang.
Zhou Xiang, who was called out: "..."
Bro, if I'd known you were this difficult, I wouldn't have messed with you in the first place!
Is it too late for me to regret it now?
Many years after graduating and landing a job, Lord Zhou, whose mind was filled with thoughts of corruption and bribery, couldn't remember the last time he had ever attempted a set of essay questions.
In short...it's very far away.
With so many people staring at him, cold sweat poured down his forehead.
You're so dense, think of something already!
Fortunately, after pretending to ponder deeply for a while, Zhou Xiang finally came up with the answer: "The Way is the foundation of governance. Those who see and know it grasp its form, and those who hear and know it grasp its spirit, but they must ultimately return to 'moderation and righteousness'."
“Looking at the knowledge of Yu and Gao Yao, and the knowledge of Tang, they all conformed to the established laws of Yao and Shun. Yi Yin was happy to assist in governance, and Confucius compiled and established laws. All of these were ways to maintain peace in the world.”
(This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading) 245. Teaching at the Prefectural School (Part 2) (Page 2/2)
They probably knew that their solution to the problem wasn't very good.
After answering the question, Lord Zhou gave an awkward smile.
Cui Xian commented bluntly: "Lord Zhou discusses principles through the lens of criminal law, and every word he utters is as strict as the laws and regulations."
"Laws and regulations may bring peace to the world, but can they truly resonate with people's hearts? What we see and hear, in the eyes of adults, may also become 'statements' awaiting examination and 'confessions' awaiting acceptance?"
“With such cold, sharp words dissecting the mind and nature, this academy fears that sacred learning will wither away.”
Zhou Xiang's face flushed red instantly, and she trembled with anger.
A group of students from the academy watched silently on the surface, but inwardly they were screaming and roaring wildly.
How can a person be so shameless!
He kicked the provincial education commissioner and punched the provincial judicial commissioner!
Senior Brother Cui, you're awesome!
The awesome Senior Brother Cui shifted his gaze from Zhou Xiang and looked around among the group of officials.
Officials who were targeted by him panicked and avoided him, not daring to meet his gaze.
An invisible pressure inexplicably filled the air, making it hard to breathe.
final.
Cui Xian looked at Cen Hongchang: "Lord Cen, come here."
Unlike Zhou Xiang, Cen Hongchang was a man of substance.
Moreover, he deeply resented Cui Xian's earlier remarks about "changing the scriptures".
Therefore, after being named.
Lord Cen bluntly stated: "The transmission of the orthodox tradition depends on both the times and the people. Those who are aware of it personally inherit its legacy, while those who are aware of it remotely carry on its traditions. Ultimately, all of them take 'moderation' as their guiding principle."
“Yao and Shun established the Middle Way for posterity. Yu and Gao Yao saw it and practiced it. Tang heard of it and followed it. Their principles were the same. Yi Yin enjoyed it and Confucius described it. Each of them embodied this Way according to their own time.”
"I wonder if my answer to this question will satisfy the headmaster?"
Cui Xian was even more blunt: "You broke the worst."
Cen Hongchang: "...?"
Before the provincial governor could speak...
Cui Xian continued, "What Lord Cen said is like reading a local gazetteer, where the chronology of the Tongxu era is clearly distinguished."
"Unfortunately, all we see are the accounts of the flowing water, but not the source of its vitality. If the way of Yao and Shun is only dependent on the times and people, how is it different from the changing of money, grain, and criminal law?"
“If I teach students this way, I fear they will learn the story but not understand its true meaning.”
beside.
Zhou Xiang and Yu Chu, who had been scolded like grandchildren, felt inexplicably relieved when they looked at Cen Hongchang, whose face was pale and ashen.
Come on, let's all embarrass ourselves together!
But Cen Hongchang disagreed.
He snorted coldly: "The headmaster has refuted everyone else, but does he have any brilliant insights of his own?"
This translates to: If you're so good, why don't you do it yourself!
As a result, countless gazes fell upon the young abbot of Yuelu Mountain.
There are too many 'legendary events' in Choi Hyeon's life.
So much so that after five years of silence in Nanyang, when he returned to the world, people gradually forgot that he was actually the "god who controlled the eight-legged essay."
The two eight-legged essays he wrote at the age of nine, which were the top essays in the Nanyang County examination, remain two insurmountable peaks in the literary world to this day.
Now, they are vying for the position of chief examiner in this provincial examination.
Nothing would be more impactful or convincing than producing another masterpiece of the eight-legged essay!
"Insightful indeed. Since Lord Cen has asked for your guidance, this academy will certainly impart all its knowledge. Everyone, please listen carefully."
Cui Xian smiled, his eyebrows revealing a spirited expression: "Just now, Academician Yu, Lord Zhou, and Lord Cen all solved the problem one after another."
"Unfortunately, these three individuals each had their own limitations: one valued the classics, one valued the laws and regulations, and one valued tradition."
"Their answer was a rigid 'departmental official' mentality. The Education Commissioner was like a tutor, discussing classics like teaching chapters and sentences. The Provincial Surveillance Commissioner was like an official enforcing the law, seeking the middle ground like following the law. The Provincial Administration Commissioner was like a minister in charge of the treasury, clarifying the system like checking accounts."
"How could you not know that one principle illuminates all phenomena?"
"Whether you are a student or an official, the moment you step into the examination hall and pick up your pen to answer the question, you can only be the inheritor of the tradition."
"This aligns with the ideal of the imperial examination system for selecting well-rounded individuals who are 'well-versed in classics and virtuous in conduct'—not only proficient in classical texts, but also able to integrate and apply them. Their learning should be able to clarify the essence and apply it, their thinking should be able to grasp the overall picture, and their writing should be able to convey the Way and be passed down through generations."
"The eight-legged essay is regarded by the world as a tool for conveying the Way. However, every tool has a method, and every method has a key. The method for breaking through the question discussed today is not for showing off skills, but to teach students to unlock the key to this tool of the Way."
"Only by obtaining the key can one glimpse the profound wisdom of the sages, rather than merely embellishing the superficial meaning of the words."
"First, understanding the essence is fundamental: directly pointing to the heart-to-heart seal of the Daoist tradition."
Secondly, it is coherent and systematic: it governs all opinions like a network.
"Thirdly, it is based on the fundamentals: all its arguments are derived from the classics."
Fourthly, it is characterized by its literary style and rich content: its writing and artistic charm are both excellent.
Cui Xian's resounding words, like a thunderclap in spring, exploded outside the prefectural school.
Yu Chu went from being angry at the beginning to being shocked and stunned.
Zhou Xiang felt a chill run down his spine.
Cen Hongchang, who was originally 'unconvinced', was even more shaken by these words.
The expressions on the faces of the students at the prefectural school were no longer simply joy, but rather a kind of dizzying shock.
Many people were dumbfounded, as if they had just witnessed a thunderbolt splitting the chaos, and the rules and illusions that had been entrenched in their minds for many years were swiftly and decisively pierced by that simple yet sharp "key".
A chilling sensation, like a sudden enlightenment, filled the air.
Some students even burst into tears on the spot and bowed repeatedly to Choi Hyeon!
This is definitely not a simple lesson!
He deserves the respect of all the students present.
No, he deserves to be treated as a disciple by all the students of Daliang and all those who participate in the imperial examinations!
Because his method of solving problems is the method of solving all problems!
What Cui Xian is teaching today is not a "skill", but a "way".
For the imperial examinations at hand, it was like suddenly giving all the candidates a guiding light and a map in a dark maze.
From then on, the eight-legged essay was no longer a mountain that had to be blindly memorized and arduously climbed.
It has become a path that is governed by law and followed by conscience!
This road leads to the heavens!
It is foreseeable that Cui Xian's lesson today will cause a great shock and sensation in the literary world of Daliang, especially among the scholars taking the imperial examinations.
But, at this moment, right now.
There's no limit to how shocking it can get!
After imparting the 'secret method', Cui Xian began to solve the problem on the spot!
The young abbot sat on the ground, casually flicked his sleeves, and uttered eloquent words: "I have always said that the way of Yao and Shun is nothing more than moderation."
The opening nine characters are like getting straight to the point, getting straight to the source.
Without delving into specific events, it goes straight to the core of the Yao and Shun mindset—"moderation".
This is the "heart" and "foundation" of the entire work.
Upon hearing this concise yet powerful, expansive, and majestic opening sentence, the entire audience was stunned into silence.
Yu Chu's face flushed red.
Zhou Xiang awkwardly picked at his toes.
As for Cen Hongchang... he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
As the ancients said: "The classics clarify the mind and cultivate conduct; literature carries the Way."
At this moment, this sentence has become completely embodied in Cui Xian!
The evolution of contemporary writings is ever-changing, taking countless forms. The further one goes, the more one loses one's original essence, and the more skillful one becomes, the further one strays from the true path.
No wonder Cui Xian looked down on the questions they had solved earlier.
Because they've mastered the art of the eight-legged essay to an unparalleled degree!
Yes, upon hearing only Cui Xian's first words, everyone realized—
Following "Today, Heaven" and "King Wu Continues the Legacy of King Tai, King Ji, and King Wen", another masterpiece of the eight-legged essay was born!
Compared to the previous two articles.
This current piece is even more shocking because it was created under the watchful eyes of many!
It was Cui Xian who was sitting on the ground and gave the account on the spot!
What a solid foundation in classical studies and what superb writing skills it must take to accomplish this!
After breaking down the topic, it's time to continue the discussion and begin the lecture.
"To know by seeing is this way, and to know by hearing is also this way; to enjoy is this way, and to describe is also this way. Are there two ways?"
Mencius said, “From Yao and Shun to Tang, more than 500 years have passed. Yu and Gao Yao saw and knew it, because they were of the same time and shared the same path; Tang, on the other hand, heard it and knew it, because their times were different but their paths were the same.”
Excitement and cheers erupted from the crowd.
Only Xu Yizhi reacted first, pinching his thigh hard, and while writing furiously, he yelled at everyone, "Stop yelling!"
"Pick up a pen and paper right now and write this down! Write it down immediately!"
"If I miss a single word, I'll single-handedly gang up on you all!"
"Did you understand? It's me, the one who's going to gang up on all of you!"
"Write this down right now!"
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