In the Song Dynasty, the imperial examination has always been an important way to select talents, and in the year 1057, an unprecedented event occurred, which sparked a discussion among the court. The Zeng family of a scholarly family is really unique in that there are six scholars! So, what is the story of the Zeng Gong family of six ascending to the Dragon Gate together? Today, let's talk about it.
Stick to your heart
This incident has opened a new gap in the horizon of the current dynasty's literary style. The original examiners blindly pursued flowery rhetoric, but ignored the connotation of the article. Under this biased judging standard, Zeng Gong, a young genius, has been hit by the list again and again. But with his own persistence, he was finally discovered by Ouyang Xiu, the person in power. In this process, it is not difficult to see that real talent and real learning are often only temporarily ignored, and as long as the original intention is not forgotten, it will definitely be discovered.
Miracles of the Imperial Court
In the second year of the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty (1057), there was a major event in the capital that caused a sensation in the government and the opposition.
The protagonists of this incident are Zeng Gong's family of six. Zeng Gong was regarded as a prodigy by his family since he was a child, he was gifted and knowledgeable, and wrote articles with clear ideas and unique insights, which made many people have high hopes for him, thinking that he would be the champion on the road to the imperial examination.
However, Zeng Gong participated in the scientific expedition six times in a row, but he failed again and again. Although Ouyang Xiu, an authority in the court and opposition literary circles at that time, admired his literary brilliance very much after reading his works, he was never able to pass the judgment of the examiners.
Faced with this situation, Zeng Gong was also lost for a while, trying to imitate the mainstream style of writing, but the result was that the writing became worse and worse, and he couldn't even write the simple style he was originally good at. When he was about to give up, he suddenly realized that holding on to himself was the most important thing.
So Zeng Gong regained his strength, adhered to his original style of writing, and blindly studied diligently. At the age of 39, the turning point finally came. This year's chief examiner was none other than Ouyang Xiu, who had praised him back then. As an advocate of the ancient literature movement, Ouyang Xiu attaches great importance to the connotation of his works.
Show promise
With the persistence of his own literary style, Zeng Gong finally came out on top in the exam this time and won the honor of Jinshi. What's even more surprising is that several of his younger brothers and brothers-in-law also passed the exam subsequently, and six people in one class won the title of Jinshi at the same time. When the news spread, many literati and writers came to visit the Zeng family, believing that this was the result of the accumulation of virtue by the ancestors of the Zeng family, and it was also the result of diligent study and hard work in the past dynasties.
Many people expressed their sincere admiration for Zeng Gong and his family, and regarded them as role models for learning. However, some people are skeptical, thinking that the appearance of a six-jinshi in the Zeng family is just a coincidence. They believe that it is necessary to work hard to get into the Jinshi, but it is more a matter of luck. This has nothing to do with the Zeng family's elite education tradition, it is just an accidental small probability event.
Not arrogant, not arrogant
Since then, the Zeng family has not been complacent because of a six-jinshi, but has worked harder to make progress. This spirit of never being complacent is even more praised by everyone.
Zeng Gong himself is even more so, although he suffered setbacks in his early years, he was not discouraged. When he finally got the affirmation he deserved, he was not complacent, but continued to work silently. By the time of his death, his knowledge had reached the point of transcendence, and the articles he wrote had a great impact on the academic world at that time.
From the story of the Zeng family's six jinshi, we can get a glimpse of the importance of learning and education. If a family can pay attention to education and self-cultivation, it will definitely be an evergreen tree. Only in this way will there be a steady stream of talented people in society, and the country will be able to become strong and prosperous.
There have been many similar situations in later generations. Lu Shiwei, the champion in the last years of the Qing Dynasty, and his brother also took the Jinshi examination together. During the Gaozong period, the Li family had 4 brothers and 5 sons and nephews who were admitted to the same year's ceremony. It can be seen that the family can indeed make outstanding contributions to the cultivation of talents.
epilogue
Today, education is still the foundation of a strong country, and only in this way can the country and the nation continue to grow strong and create countless talents. Isn't the diligence of the people exactly the same as the example of the Zeng family's six jinshi? We must bear in mind that education is a major matter that every family and even the country should attach importance to. Only in this way can the country and the nation continue to grow strong and create countless talents.
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