Chapter 359: The Literary and Taoist Cultivation that Shocked Everyone, Confucianism Assessment, and Debate

After hearing Yan Zheng's affirmation, Ci Song nodded and said to Mr. Yi, "Then let's let this matter go."

Ci Song didn't want to cause trouble. People like Fang Zhongyong were no different from an ant in his eyes. There was no need for the academy to hold him accountable because of this ant. It was not worth it.

"Okay, then I'll go back and deal with the matter first, and you can take the exam well."

After saying that, Mr. Yi bowed his hands to everyone present, then turned and left.

"You, my boy, have caused trouble just a short time after you returned to the academy. You are just like your father back then." Yan Zheng teased.

"Well, Dean, Mr. Yi just said that it was Fang Zhongyong who provoked me first, so I fought back."

When Ci Song heard this, he immediately explained that he was not a person who liked to take the initiative to cause trouble, and he was completely different from his father in this regard.

"Okay, the content of the entrance exam is also very simple. You only need to pass three tests. The first is to reach the enlightened state of literary and Taoist cultivation."

Having said this, Yan Zheng looked up at Ci Song and said, "Your current cultivation level must have exceeded that, but I don't know your specific cultivation level."

"Nine fingers can lift people." Ci Song replied slowly.

As soon as these words came out, the faces of the gentlemen present showed a look of horror. Most of them had only heard of Ci Song's "prestige", but they didn't know much about him. When they heard that Ci Song had already When you reach the nine-finger talent level, you can imagine the shock in your heart.

Moreover, many of the gentlemen present had met Ci Song when he was admitted to school. At that time, his literary and moral cultivation was only at the level of enlightenment. In other words, in just over a year, Ci Song's literary and moral cultivation had reached an all-time high. Elevated to three major realms?

"Nine-finger talent cultivation, you can break through the realm of Jinshi with just one question from heaven and earth. How old is he?"

"If I remember correctly, he is still under fifteen years old and has not reached the age of weakness, but he can actually reach the nine-finger talent to lift people. What kind of evil qualification is this? How did he practice?"

"It seems that our vision is far less than Mr. Ning's."

The gentlemen present sighed one after another. They knew that Mr. Ning once had a very high opinion of Ci Song, but they thought that Mr. Ning only looked at Ci Song in a different light because his father was a Ci fanatic. However, Now it seems that Mr. Ning does have a unique vision and sees the extraordinary features of Ci Song.

"You kid."

Yan Zheng was also a little surprised. He originally thought that Ci Song had gone out to practice for a year, and with the blessing of Mirage Dragon, his cultivation level should be around the Seven Finger Talent cultivation level. However, he did not expect that Ci Song was only half a step away from being a Jinshi.

"You have passed the first item. The second item is proficiency in Confucian classics. You have been traveling most of the time and do not know Confucianism. Have you forgotten it?" Yan Zheng said.

"Dean, why don't you test me and see if I can answer it?" Ci Song said slowly.

"Okay, then the dean will ask you, in the Analects of Confucius, Zengzi said: I examine myself three times every day, have I been unfaithful in my plans for others? Have I not believed in my friends when I made them? Have I not learned to pass them on?"

"Back to the dean, this passage comes from "The Analects of Confucius·Xue Er Pian", which means Zengzi said: I have to reflect on myself many times every day: am I loyal when I advise others and do things? Are I trustworthy when making friends? What I teach to others, Have you practiced it yourself?”

"The way of "Great Learning" lies in being virtuous, being close to the people, and striving for perfection. How do you explain this sentence?"

"This sentence comes from "The Classics of the University", which means that the purpose of the university is to promote upright moral character, to make people abandon the old and pursue the new, and to make people reach the most perfect state."

"What is the mean of the Doctrine of the Mean? What is the mean?"

"This sentence comes from "The Doctrine of the Mean", which means that the Doctrine is impartial and the right way; the Doctrine of the Mean is the ordinary way."

"Okay, it seems that you have indeed done a lot of research on Confucian classics. I will ask you again. In "Mencius: Gongsun Chou", Mencius said: "Hu Zhi" refers to the handsomeness of Qi; Qi refers to the filling of body. "Hu Zhi" At the end of the day, the Qi is at the end. Therefore, it is said: Keep your ambition and do not expose your Qi."

"Back to the dean, the meaning of this passage is that Mencius said: The mind is the commander of the spirit, and the spirit is filled in the body. Wherever the mind goes, the spirit will also follow. Therefore, we must keep the will firm and don't let the spirit irritable."

The two answered each other's questions. No matter which sentence Yan Zheng asked Ci Song about in the Confucian classics, Ci Song could immediately answer it, explain the source, and explain it very clearly.

"It seems that these things are still too simple for you."

Yan Zheng had a slight smile on his face, obviously very satisfied with Ci Song's answer.

"Dean, you have given me the award."

"Well, very good. Then I will increase the difficulty and have a debate with you. Are you willing?"

Ci Song understood that Yan Zheng really wanted to test himself, so he replied: "The students are very happy."

"Okay, the world is in danger, the country is in trouble, and the king is incompetent. Should we Confucians step forward, or should we choose to sit back and watch?"

"Students believe that Confucianism is based on benevolence and that we should take saving the world as our own responsibility. When the world is in danger, we should naturally step forward, follow the way of the saints, and take the world as our own responsibility." Ci Song replied.

"But if we do this, it will involve Confucianism in the disputes of troubled times. Confucius said: If you are not in your position, you will not seek political power. If we do this, wouldn't it violate the way of the sage?" Yan Zheng asked Song Dao in return.

"Confucius said: People have something to do, and then they can do something. "Mencius' Heart to Heart" says: the people are the most valuable, the country is second, and the king is the least. In troubled times, we Confucians should put the people first, save the world and bring peace to the people. Only then can we truly follow the way of the saints. If we watch the world suffer, that would be a departure from Confucianism.”

"It seems that you have your own understanding of Confucianism. It is said in "The Analects of Confucius Yan Yuan": Confucius said: "Government should be based on virtue. This is indeed the case. But in troubled times, the king is stupid, so what if we govern based on virtue?" Can it change the situation in troubled times?"

"There is an explanation in the first section of "Mencius Li Lou Chapter 1": Only a benevolent person should be in a high position. Being unkind and in a high position is to spread evil to the people. If the king is stupid, it is to spread evil to the people and harm the public. In a world of chaos, such a king cannot be called a king. Students believe that we Confucians can govern with benevolence in troubled times, but the rulers of the country are not the king, but the people, as long as the people truly support Confucianism, which governs by virtue. , then the troubled times can be saved.”

"Okay, then if another Confucian school rises in troubled times, and they advocate using violence to control violence, chaos to control chaos, and war to end war, how will you face it?" Yan Zheng continued to ask.

. . . . . .