The 62 epigrams of the I Ching "Kun Hexagram" are "Straight and big, not learned, no disadvantage." Lu Duan is the famous prime minister of the Song Dynasty who is known as "confused in small things, not confused in big things". Is there any intrinsic relationship between the two? The answer lies in the following topics:
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Why is the 62 lines of the I Ching's "Kun Hexagram" similar to the style of the famous minister Lu Duan of the Song Dynasty?
1. Interpret the 62 lines of "Kun Hexagram".
"Kun Hexagram" 62 Yao "Straight and big, not accustomed, no disadvantage." The "Straight Big" in refers to the characteristics of the earth. The ancients believed that "the sky is round and the earth is round", the earth is square, the four sides are straight, and it is vast and boundless. If the way of heaven is strong, the way of earth is "big straight";
"Straight" means honest and sincere, "square" represents square, and "big" represents tolerance. "Xi" means to practice or cultivate, and "not to practice" means that you don't have to deliberately practice or cultivate, just go with the flow. "No disadvantage" means that there is no disadvantage. Therefore, the meaning of the whole mantra is: uprightness, uprightness, and greatness, and there is no need to practice, and there is no disadvantage.
Integrity, squareness, and generosity are the qualities of ministers in ancient times. As a minister, if you do these three things and do things capriciously, you will naturally be reused by the king. Lu Duan, the protagonist of our story today, is a good interpretation of this line, and finally grew into a famous minister of the Song Dynasty.
Second, the story confirms Lu Duan's style of acting
Lü Duan (935 – May 9, 1000), a native of Anci County, Youzhou (present-day Anci District, Langfang City, Hebei Province), whose character "Yi Zhi" seems to be associated with the 62 lines of the I Ching's Kun Hexagram. He was born in a family of eunuchs and was eager to learn and progress. After the establishment of the Northern Song Dynasty, he served as a local official in many places. Because of his honesty and frugality, he made the people peaceful and became famous.
Song Taizong stills
After Song Taizong ascended the throne, Lu Duan first served as the judge of Kaifeng Prefecture, and then was demoted to Shangru Sihu to join the army and other places because of "trivial things". In the first year of Taoism (995), he officially paid homage to the prime minister. He has a general knowledge of politics all his life, and he is simple in handling things, and was called "confused in small things, not confused in big things" by Song Taizong.
He was an official of the prefect with Lu Duan, and there are many officials who are bigger than the prefect, but there are very few people who can finally ascend to the position of prime minister. No one else did it, but Lu Duan did it, what did he rely on? In his own words, he was acting upright and generous. Lu Duan often said: "I walk straight, I have nothing to fear, and I don't have to worry about the turmoil." ”
The following two stories confirm Lu Duan's style:
- Generously recommend Kou Zhun
It is said that Lu Duan once worked with Kou Zhun and was above Kou Zhun at that time. However, Kou Zhun advocated resisting the invasion of the Liao State, and often spoke out and admonished the government, without any scruples. Therefore, many ministers have opinions about Kou Zhun, saying that he is too sharp. Lu Duan, however, believed that Kou Zhun dared to speak out, which was a manifestation of the quality of loyalty, and that advocating resistance to Liao was more in line with the fundamental interests of the country and the nation. Therefore, Lu Duan has great respect for Kou Zhun and always discusses with Kou Zhun in political affairs.
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When Song Taizong chose a new prime minister, the emperor and his ministers all thought that Lü Duan was the best candidate. Lu Duan said that Kou Zhun was the most suitable candidate. Although Song Taizong finally made Lü Duan the prime minister, but in terms of the phase, it was a few years, and he took the initiative to ask the Holy Admiral to give up the phase to Kou Zhun, and Kou Zhun took over as the prime minister.
Later, Kou Zhun also did political affairs, and it stands to reason that Lu Duan's seniority should be in the front, and Kou Zhun is in the back, and there is no controversy about his ranking. However, Lu Duan asked to list himself after Kou Zhun and got permission from him. Lu Duan's generous style, which does not care about fame and fortune, takes the overall situation into account, and handles things with the principle of honesty and simplicity was passed down as a good story at the time.
Based on such facts, and the fact that Lu Duan rarely makes high-minded statements when he is in the court, some people mistakenly think that Lu Duan is a foolish person, but Song Taizong thinks that these are all trivial things, and Lu Duan is just "confused about small things", and he is not confused when he encounters "big things".
Stills from Lu Duan
2. Oppose the killing of the mother of the rebel
Li Jiqian was a rebel general who defected to the west in the Song Dynasty. According to the law of the Song Dynasty, all rebels and others were punished by being beheaded all over the house. At the time of the rebellion, Li Jiqian's mother was left in her hometown due to her advanced age. After Li Jiqian became a rebel general, his mother was immediately arrested. In order to punish the queen, Song Taizong decided to kill Li Jiqian's mother. As soon as Chrysostom came out, none of the ministers dared to raise objections.
For this reason, Song Taizong summoned Kou Zhun alone and asked him what his opinion was. At that time, Kou Zhun had no disagreement and offered it. When Kou Zhun retreated from the dynasty, he was seen by Lu Duan. Lu Duan guessed that there must be something important in the planning. Let Kou Zhun stay and ask what is going on. Lu Duan asked Kou Zhun: "Did Your Majesty mention that you mean to discuss things with me Lu Duan?" Kou Zhun said, "No!"
Lu Duan blurted out: "You don't have to let me know about the ordinary things at the border, if there is a major military event and a big plan is discussed, I, Lu Duan, as the prime minister of the dynasty, must not know." Kou Zhun listened to Lu Duan's words and felt that this matter was really important, so he truthfully told Lu Duan that Fang Cai Taizong had summoned him to deal with Li Jiqian's mother.
The Song Dynasty was famous for Lu Duan
Lu Duan then asked Kou Zhun: "What does the Holy Lord plan to deal with?" Kou Zhun replied: "The Holy Lord means to behead her outside the north gate of the security army to show the public, and intends to use this disposal method to deter those who have the heart of rebellion, right?" Unexpectedly, Lu Duan proceeded from the overall situation at the time, and then took a long-term plan, and boldly stated in front of Taizong: opposing the killing of Li Jiqian's mother.
If it weren't for Lu Duan's straightforward nature, how would he stand up for the consideration of the society and risk committing the crime of killing his head? After listening to Lu Duan's words, Taizong felt that it was very reasonable, so he asked: "According to what you say, what should be done with Li Jiqian's mother?"
Lu Duan saw that Taizong had a living word, so he told his thoughts, he said: "With the method that I have come up with is not a clever method, please think about whether to put her in that place in Yanzhou and send someone to take good care of her, so as to persuade Li Jiqian to change his mind and stop rebelling." In this way, although Li Jiqian cannot descend to the Song Dynasty immediately, we can finally use his mother in the Song Dynasty to tie his heart. As for his mother's life and death, it is not yet in our hands. ”
坤卦爻辞
Taizong listened to Lu Duan's far-sighted thoughts, and thought in his heart that Lu Duan was really smart. I think there are so many ministers in my court, and no one has put forward such a clever opinion as Lu Duan, and he almost missed my big event. So, he adopted Lu Duan's opinion, put Li Jiqian's mother in Yanzhou, and sent someone to serve her until she died of illness in Yanzhou. Later, Li Jiqian also died, and his son Li Deming temporarily submitted to the Song Dynasty because of the Song Dynasty's affection for his grandmother.
3. Similarities between the two
The 62 Yao of "Kun Hexagram" enlightens people: How subordinates deal with the relationship with their bosses is very difficult and delicate. But as long as the lower can get along with the superior with integrity and uprightness, it is always beneficial and harmless. The above two stories illustrate: Lu Duan did his courtier's way with a straight nature, and he was well aware of the righteousness of this line.
In short, the 62 lines of the I Ching "Kun Hexagram" are very similar to the style of the Song Dynasty's famous minister Lu Duan, because they both embody the qualities of integrity, dignity, and grandeur. This quality is not only the moral cultivation that a person should have, but also the demeanor that a leader should have. Only people with this quality can remain sober and firm in the complex and ever-changing social environment and make due contributions to the country and the people.
Sculpture of Lu Duan
This article was originally written by "Ruri Zhongtian 54", welcome to pay attention, learn together, and improve together!