Nowadays, the Confucius Temples around the world have become a destination for tourists to punch in the clock. In the Confucius Temple everywhere, almost all of them hang several plaques, and the most eye-catching position must be a piece of [Wanshishi Watch], but with the transmutation of time and situation, the current state of these "Wanshishishi Watches" is different from the regulations, new and old. However, if the ten thousand plaques are one, they are actually derived from an ancestral plaque. Speaking of this, I am afraid that many people will blurt out: Isn't this ancestral plaque hanging in the Confucius Temple in Qufu now? Is this really the case?
Above_ The Master of Wanshi in the Confucius Temple in Qufu
In the twenty-third year of the Kangxi Dynasty (1684), the Three Domains were determined, and the resistance of the Southern Ming Dynasty had subsided, and the whole country was stable. Relying on the vigorous military front of the dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty, coupled with his bold and excellent political strategy, the martial arts of pacifying the world were largely completed. The next step is to consider how to rule the world.
In this year, the 33-year-old Kangxi traveled from Beijing to luannan, arrived in Qufu and returned to drive, a journey of about two months.
In early winter and October, he ascended Mount Tai and sacrificed Emperor Dongyue. In Taoyuan County and Gaoyou Lake, he comforted the river workers and the elderly, and warned the officials not to do anything wrong. When he crossed the Yangtze River by boat, he sighed and said, "These are all warships." Now for the tour, but the difficulties are not to be forgotten. "He went to Suzhou and then to Huishan in Wuxi, at which time he ordered the inspector of Jiangsu: The people rushed to see us, and those who could not go back on the same day should be paid some travel expenses. In November, he went to Nanjing to pay homage to the Ming Tombs. After that, he crossed Suqian, Baiyang River, and finally reached Qufu.
Above_ Qing Wang Yi 《Kangxi Southern Tour Map》
This southern tour can be seen in the "Qing Shilu Kangxi Dynasty Record". Generally speaking, although Kangxi's trip was compact and meticulous, it was only a routine to complete the routine of a king of a country, and there was nothing surprising about it. However, a careful reading of the historical materials revealed that historians who cherished ink and gold spent a considerable amount of space describing a detail on the way.
It was a night reading. The emperor's boat was moored on the water of the Yangtze River under the swallow rocks of Nanjing. At the end of a busy day, Kangxi, from the meager night to the late night, was reading by candlelight.
Gao Shiqi, the literary and historical master of the dynasty, was now serving as a bachelor's student at the Hanlin Academy, and accompanied by the driver. He came to the ship, and a conversation took place between the monarchs and the courtiers. Gao Shiqi said: Since the emperor's southern tour, he has always stayed up late to read and write, worried that you are too tired, should you rest more?
Kangxi replied: I have known about reading since I was five years old. When he was in power at the age of eight, he often consulted the left and right ministers on the knowledge in "University" and "Moderation", and he felt very happy after understanding the general idea. The books you read every day must be able to recite the words and never be willing to deceive yourself. After the four books have been completed, he began to read the "Book of Shang", in these classics, he experienced the painstaking efforts of the ancient emperors to govern the country, and hoped to use these experiences in their own practice. When I read "Zhou Yi" and "Guan Xiang Play Zhan" (ancient Chinese astronomical works), I felt the joy of realizing the connotation and truth. Therefore, I am really happy to read.
Qufu was the most fundamental destination of this southern tour, and he stayed here for three days and two nights.
Above_ Diagram of the Sacred Relics of Confucius
The Confucius Temple is revered as the Temple of the Ancestors. Before Kangxi arrived at Kuiwen Pavilion, he lowered the imperial robe, walked to the Dacheng Hall, faced the statue of Confucius, he performed three kneeling and nine prostrations, and offered the imperial blessing, one of which was: "Open the civilization of all ages, and the honor of the hundred kings." ”
In the Poetry Hall, Kangxi warmly received the descendants of Confucius, led by Kong Yuxi, the Duke of Yansheng. Kong Shangjin gave a lecture on the I Ching. The author of the peach blossom fan, the invigilator Kong Shangrenjin, gave a lecture on "University", which also helped Kong Shangren to obtain a status promotion in the future.
Kangxi visited the sacred sites of the "Three Holes" (Confucius House, Confucius Temple, and Kong Lin) in detail, and asked questions from time to time. After seeing the well left behind by Kong Zhao, he ordered people to draw water from the well with great interest and tasted a few mouthfuls. In response to Kong Yuxi's question that Kong Lin's area has been crowded so far, and it is difficult for the descendants of Kong Yuxi to be buried, he decided on the spot to let Kong Yuxi immediately evacuate and enlist the land to solve. He also decided to exempt Qufu from rent next year.
Above: The 40-year-old Kangxi Emperor
In front of the Dacheng Hall, Kangxi solemnly took out the written imperial book: The Master of The Ten Thousand Worlds. He ordered the scholars to read out his decree, which stated that confucius's most holy virtues were as vast as the heavens and the earth, the sun and the moon, and could not be described. I have always studied the scriptures, pondered the Tao, and wanted to praise them, but I could not find the language. The four characters of the special book "Table of The Masters of All Ages" are hung in the temple with a hanging forehead, which is used to expound the holy religion and show the future.
"The Table of The Masters of The Ten Thousand Worlds", which he explained, is the most holy way, parallel to the sun and the moon, and the same luck with the heavens and the earth, and the Emperor of the Ten Thousand Worlds and the Xianso Teachers.
Kangxi also tirelessly emphasized the purpose of his visit, saying: Emperors of all generations have come here to offer sacrifices, and some of them have left gold and silver vessels, and I, today, personally perform rituals and respect the most holy ones, more than before.
Kangxi left all the crank yellow covers of this trip at the Confucius Temple, and instructed the descendants of the Kong clan to display these royal ceremonial utensils when they sacrificed their ancestors to show his honor.
Thus, the Manchu emperor, through his figure reading Confucian classics at night in the boat, and the large characters of the imperial book hanging on the Dacheng Hall, have shown his strategy of wenzhi to the whole world.
The plaque is the manifesto of Wenzhi that the Qing Dynasty, which was still very young at this time, told the world.
Above_ The Wanshishi watch in the Confucius Temple in Beijing
The Kangxi Temple is called Shengzu, and the imperial palace lasted for 61 years, and some scholars believe that the emperor who created the prosperous era in the early Qing Dynasty met the standards of the so-called inner saint and foreign king in traditional China.
The following year, the plaque of the [WanshiShi Table] was engraved and awarded to the directly subordinate provinces, prefectures and counties, and then almost extended to the national temples and schools. Some scholars also believe that the Manchu monarchs were more in line with chinese tradition than the native-born emperors of the previous dynasties.
This ancestral plaque in the Dacheng Hall of the Confucius Temple in Qufu, hanging for 282 years, was burned in 1966. At present, this plaque of the Confucius Temple in Qufu is engraved from the "Table of Ten Thousand Masters" of the Confucius Temple in Beijing.
Above_ Old photo of The Confucius Temple in Qufu
In July 2017, the National Palace Museum in Taipei launched a special exhibition entitled "The Master of Wanshi - Confucius in Calligraphy and Painting". Suddenly appeared Kangxi's handwritten cloak: WanshiShi Watch. The size of this work is 109.2×393cm, and the left side is the following: Kangxi Jiazi Meng Dong Jingshu. The chapter on the shangju is the Manchu and Chinese "treasures of guangyun".
It is said that this is the original of Confucius, brought to Taiwan by Kong Decheng, the 77th grandson of Confucius and the 31st generation of Yan Sheng Gong (and the last generation of Yan Sheng Gong). This Kangxi handwritten book, the pen is fully displayed, its charm far exceeds the engraving and restoration of the various parties of the Wanshishi table plaque, it should be the Qufu Nafang [Wanshishi Table] ancestral plaque plaque.
Author: Wang Hao Correction/Editor: Lilith
References: Draft History of the Qing Dynasty, Records of the Qing Dynasty
The text was created by the History University Hall team, and the picture originated from the Internet and the copyright belongs to the original author