introduction
Chinese talk about "self-cultivation and family governance and world peace." In order to achieve the ultimate goal of "peace in the world", "self-cultivation" has become the primary condition.
So, how do you cultivate yourself? Throughout the ages, there has been disagreement on this statement. However, among the many different opinions, there is something in common - that is, they all require individuals to be good people, to do more good deeds and good deeds. Speaking of which, there must be a poem that has poured into the minds of countless people - but know how to do good deeds, do not ask about the future.
This poem has also been enshrined by countless people as a motto. However, presumably many people do not know the origin of this poem, and the poet Feng Dao, who wrote such a philosophical and famous poem through the ages, was even relegated by Ouyang Xiu and Sima Guang to shameless traitors.
What is the story behind this poem? Why would Feng Dao write such a philosophical poem as a "traitor"?
Feng Daoqiren
In the "History of the New Five Dynasties" compiled by Ouyang Xiu, his evaluation of Feng Dao was: "If he can be said to be a person without shame, then the country under the heavens can know it"; Sima Guang bluntly said in his compilation of the Zizhi Tongjian that Feng Dao was "the best of the traitors" - the best of the traitors.
However, is this really the case?
In 882, Feng Dao was born in a farming family in Jingcheng, Yingzhou. Good heirloom style and clever talent also allowed Feng Dao to have a bright future. However, the fate of the individual in the face of the times seems like a lone sail in the sea, difficult to grasp.
At that time, the Tang Dynasty was already on the verge of extinction. The division of feudal towns in various places, the dictatorship of eunuchs within, supplemented by the fire of the Huangchao Rebellion, also made the dynasty in danger. So with the growth of Feng Dao, Chinese history entered an era that historians have called "Ji Shi" - the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. During this period, strongmen emerged, and Zhu Wen, Li Keyong, Shi Jingyao, Chai Rong, Zhao Kuangyin and others appeared for the first time. As for the people, they are mostly reduced to grass and mustard, and the tragedy of cannibalism abounds.
As a literati, how did Feng Dao deal with it?
From the time when Liu Shouguang was made a subordinate by Youzhou Jiedu during the Tianyou period, to the successive bureaucrats of Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou, in just a few decades of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, he successively served as an official of the Four Dynasties and Ten Dynasties to Zaifu, and the people of the time were given the title of "Tumbler".
From the perspective of Feng Dao's eunuchs alone, it cannot be said that it is not successful. However, what we have to say is that in the chaotic situation, Feng Dao's choice is obviously contrary to the loyalty and filial piety propagated by traditional Confucians in our country. Especially after the rise of the Song Dynasty, it seems reasonable to criticize such a "multi-faceted person" as Feng Dao.
But to be fair, to talk about the traces, Feng Dao can be in a chaotic world and remain in a high position for a long time, if it were not for his great talent and power, this is obviously impossible.
Feng Dao's "talent and ability" is reflected in the fact that he is brave and pragmatic in his politics.
During the confrontation between Liang and Jin, Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang was furious and ordered the removal of Guo Chongtao to choose another commander, and Feng Dao slowly made Zhuangzong realize; during the time of Emperor Mingzong, in the face of Emperor Mingzong's indulgence and pleasure, he also sarcastically advised him; after that, he sent an envoy to Khitan regardless of his safety, and what is even more valuable is that even if he was in a high position, he was able to be pragmatic, promote the virtuous, and help the people.
It can be said that these actions are the answers to his life given by him in such a chaotic world as five generations. Even if the way of heaven changes and life is impermanent, it is enough to do good deeds.
This also became the reason why he was able to write the poem "Heavenly Path".
The writing and analysis of the poem "Heavenly Dao"
"The Way of Heaven"
(Five generations. Feng Dao)
Poor people are all destined, He Lao sighed.
But if you know how to do good things, don't ask about the future.
In winter, the ice whiskers are pan, and the spring grass grows on its own.
Please look at this reason, the way of heaven is very clear.
In this poem, Feng Dao, who has experienced many vicissitudes, classifies everything as the "Heavenly Dao", but this return is not passive and avoidant, but positive.
He believed that wealth and poverty were providential, but he did not approve of being passive. So what to do with it? Do good deeds without it, as long as you can grasp the present and do a good job in the present. As for the future, let him go.
Everything in the world has its own truth, the ice and snow will melt, the spring grass will grow on its own, and everything will always come naturally. Isn't this a portrayal of Feng Dao's own life? The so-called follow the Tao is not from the king is also.
In the Ji Dynasty, he could not choose on his own; as a literati, he was powerless to end the chaos; but as a person, a minister of the Four Dynasties and Ten Emperors, why did Feng Dao not have his own persistence?
And "but know how to do good deeds, don't ask about the future" is exactly where his persistence lies.
brief summary
Ouyang Xiu, Sima Guang and other unbearable people in the population, and the self-cultivation words believed by countless posterity in his pen, are so interesting and humorously gathered in one.
But we are more aware of the profound meaning of history, from the five generations of good ministers in the population of the time to the adulterous generation in the writers' pens, this is not the creation of the times.
However, I believe that Feng Daoru knew about it and knew the slanderous words of Ouyang Xiu and Sima Guang, but he should not be too resentful. After all, this is a good person who "knows good deeds and does not ask about the future", isn't it?