There are many hermits in history, not all of whom are really willing to be born. Among them, there are indeed hermits who hold the ambition to retreat from the red dust, such as Meson Tui, Yan Guang, Ji Kang, Lin Kui, Ni Zhan, etc.; there are also characters who are first shi and then hidden or half shi and half hidden, Tao Yuanming, Wang Wei, Zhong Fang, and Liu Ji should belong to this list. As for the legendary Xu You, Chao Father, Boyi, Shu Qi, Ghost Guzi, etc., it seems that they can be explored from the legends and spiritual qi of Youmiao. There is also a hermit ecology, which is more special, while living in the mountains for a long time, wandering through the forest springs, like a god among the gods, while continuing to exert political influence. Perhaps it is difficult to locate such a role for a while, and posterity can only adopt a language balance between Shi Yin and name it: "Yamanaka Zaizai" is also! The representative figures are Tao Hongjing of the Southern and Northern Dynasties liang dynasty, Li Bi of the Tang dynasty and Wang Jun of the Ming dynasty, especially Tao Hongjing. Tao Hongjing, a native of Moling, Danyang, was born in a family of official eunuchs and recited the history of the scriptures from an early age. When I was 10 years old, I occasionally read Ge Hong's "Biography of the Immortals" of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and my feelings were enlightened by it, and I actually had such an extraordinary mind as "looking up at Qingyun, seeing the day, not feeling far away". At the age of 15, he wrote a poem "Looking for the Mountain", which contained the ambition of "the easy to scratch the world's feelings, but the staff to find the mountain", saying that it was good to listen, it can be described as the first appearance of the bones of The Coats; to be honest, there is a hint of "old age" that does not have any old teeth. With Tao Hongjing's academic endowment, dignified appearance, and good at piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, although he is younger, there is no shortage of opportunities for advancement. No, the year is not as good as the weak crown, that is, the kings are called to read. Immersed in the court and the rich mansion all day long, it is reasonable to say that it is easy to be contaminated with the habit of being a gentleman and a greedy and spoiled person, but the ambition of the spring stone and the character of pulling out the world in the early years have not been extinguished. He was alienated from the feasts of the dignitaries; he was by no means envious of the soaring yellow tengda in the official arena. On weekdays, he is alone in a room, reading a group of books, not handing over foreign objects, like a monk in retreat. That spotless breath actually formed an inexplicable aura, so that the secretary of state and the nobles and the people of the DPRK rushed to befriend it. Therefore, Tao Hongjing, who has always been tired of thin and colorful, came up with the intention of retreating. Due to the sudden change of lords in the world, Xiao Daocheng overthrew Liu Song and established Xiao Qi, and after repeated retention, it was only after Repeated Retention that Tao Hongjing's original ambition could not be completed for a while. Just like Liu Yu Xi Shiyun "The world's roads are dangerous, the mountains and rivers are dangerous, and the smoke of the Junmen Is Deep", the new dynasty is standing, if you Tao Hongjing whisks away with your sleeves, it will be too faceless, right? Therefore, Tao Hongjing did not wait until 10 years after Xiao Daocheng's death, that is, the tenth year of Emperor Yongming of Qiwu (492) before he again submitted a petition for resignation. Shi Zai, on the day he left Beijing, the dignitaries of the DPRK and China almost rushed out to send off Tao Hongjing, who was not in a high position and had a high reputation, which was called "something unprecedented since the Song Dynasty" and "the beginning of the Song Dynasty."
Jurong's Countryside Source: Xinhua News Agency
Leaving the official field, Tao Hongjing went to live in seclusion on Jurong Mao Mountain, not far from his hometown. Maoshan, known in Taoism as the Eighth Cave Heaven and the First Blessed Land, is named after the three brothers Maoying, Mao Gu and Mao Zhen of Xianyang in the fourth year of the Western Han Dynasty (153 BC). Later, many Gaoshi Daoists such as Ge Xuan, Ge Hong, Yang Yi, Xu Mu, Lu Xiujing, Sun Youyue, gu quan, etc. all came here to build lu monasteries. From the pre-Qin to the Song Dynasty, successive generations opened mountains to dig roads and built the "Three Palaces and Five Views", which became the birthplace of the Shangqing school of Chinese Taoism, and was also known as the "Qin and Han Immortal Palace, the home of Liang and Tang Zaixiang (referring to Tao Hongjing, Li Bi, the author's note)". In the autumn of Gengzi's year, I made a special trip to Maoshan Mountain. Different from the imaginary hiking and mountaineering, the verdant winding roads and regular bus connections seem to omit the hard work of climbing for tourists, and make the scenery along the way feel slightly relaxed. I went to several scenic spots, such as the ochre red Taoist Temple Jiuxiao Wanfu Palace, the "Three Heavenly Gate" where the three Mao brothers were said to have ascended the Tao, the quaint and dignified Yuanfu Wanning Palace, and the statue of Lao Tzu with a golden body and a high statue of Lao Tzu on the main altar of the dojo, which showed the solemn atmosphere of a majestic hall and towering pavilions. However, when you are on a wide and flat mountain platform, looking at the leisurely scenery, or looking up at the vast sky, you suddenly have the feeling of clouds opening up and cresting. I noticed that in the Wanfu Palace on the main peak, there are several statues of Taoist figures enshrined, including a bust of a white-haired, white-eyebrowed, immortal-like figure of "Tao Hongjing, The Prime Minister of the Mountain.". Of course, the current Maoshan Mountain is difficult to provide the exact location of Tao Hongjing's Cultivation of Lu Dan in the past. He entered the mountain to cultivate for 45 years, until he died in the mountain, if it were not for his idyllic nature and strong Daoist heart, he would never be able to stay still. According to the situation at that time, although Tao Hongjing had a clear name and was respected, he was well aware of the impermanence of the situation, and if he made a slight mistake, he would fall into a dangerous situation at any time. Living in the mountains, following the footsteps of Ge Hong, who is admired, although the material life is poor, it can be free and spiritually free. But I think that Tao Hongjing's hermitage in Maoshan is still different from Lin Hejing's hermitage in the isolated mountain later. Lin Hejing was completely and resolutely retreated, so he was called a "virgin"; and in the depths of Tao Hongjing's heart, he still had the same ambition as Zhang Liang. No, the throne of Emperor Xiao Daocheng of Qiwu was not yet hot, and his descendant Xiao Yan raised an army in Xiangyang, overthrowing his Southern Qi (both of which were descendants of Xiao He of the Western Han Dynasty) and establishing Southern Liang. It is said that this "Liang" character was first proposed by Tao Hongjing as a "water ugly wooden song"; at the same time, Tao Hongjing also quickly sent his disciples to falsely advise him to advance, which is also a "first-mover", which is naturally the first to come out compared to those who supported the "follow-up". It cannot be said that this Tao Hongjing who stays in the mountains, although he can't get out of the mountains, he knows everything in the world. After Xiao Yan invaded Jiankang (Nanjing), Tao Hongjing developed what he had learned in his life, deduced the national name (of course, both were "Liang") by introducing the techniques of Wei Wei and Yin and Yang Astrology, and then ordered his disciple Jiankang Jincheng to be adopted by Emperor Xiao Yan of Liangwu. Why did Tao Hongjing want to help Xiao Yan so much, and even intervene in the world as a born body? I thought the reasons weren't complicated. First, Tao Hongjing and Xiao Yan had a very good relationship when they were young, and Xiao Yan admired his wind and bones for a long time, and should be regarded as Tao Hongjing's "fan"; second, Tao Hongjing knew how to judge the hour and size up the situation, thinking that Xiao Yan's destruction of the old dynasty was the destiny of heaven, and it was appropriate to adapt to the changes of the times and vigorously promote it. There is another layer, I am afraid that it is also out of practical considerations: although Tao Hongjing was admired in the Xiao Qi Dynasty, his official position has always been relatively low, and he has not been used much, which can be described as a time when he was talented and talented, and his ambition was high and humble. Even though he didn't seem to care much on the surface, he couldn't rule out that he had some resentment in his heart. In desperation, he simply retreated from danger and dust, and reconstructed the spatial dimension of life with the wisdom of advance and retreat.
The boat meeting on Maoshan Township Source: Xinhua News Agency
With the birth of Xiao Yan, the Emperor of Liangwu, Tao Hongjing's flower of life also bloomed. For example, as a Taoist priest of alchemy, Tao Hongjing often suffered from a lack of good medicinal materials, and when Xiao Yan learned of it, he ordered someone to send gold, cinnabar, Xionghuang, and Zeng Qing to provide for his needs. Speaking of this, or some people think that the reason why Tao Hongjing is bent on supporting Xiao Yan to the throne also has his worldly utilitarian purpose? For example, seek to re-emerge from the mountains and ascend to a higher political arena with the help of the king's merits? Such a view is a reasonable inference, but the peculiarity of Tao Hongjing may disappoint the commentators: at that time, Xiao Yan, the Emperor of Liangwu, watched such a prodigy as Tao Hongjing live in seclusion in the mountains all day, and often regretted it, and he prepared generous gifts several times, sent people into the mountains to hire Tao Hongjing, and hoped that he would go out of the mountains to assist him. Tao Hongjing adopted the same attitude as Yan Ziling in the Han Dynasty: refusal. Is this a pretense and self-promotion? In order to let Emperor Wu of Liang die of this heart, the "painter" Tao Hongjing also specially made a painting in which two cows, one with a golden cage head, were dragged and walked; the other was scattered in the dense grass, appearing leisurely. After Emperor Wu of Liang read the painting, he truly understood Tao Hongjing's wishes and aspirations, and he no longer forced it. Emperor Wu of Liang must have also known that a few years ago Emperor Gao of Qi also asked Tao Hongjing to come out of the mountains to assist the government, and the edict contained the words "What is in the mountains, why do you love and not return", Tao Hongjing replied: "What is in the mountains?" There are many white clouds on the ridge. It can only be pleasing to oneself, and it is not enough to hold the gift. According to this, the suspicion that Tao Hongjing pretended to be high and sold at a price can basically be ruled out, but his hope that Xiao Yan's idea of bringing a peaceful weather after he came to power seems to be valid. Therefore, Emperor Wu of Liang, in the case of not moving Tao Hongjing, had no choice but to adopt the trick of constantly sending people into the mountains to ask about politics. The "Nanshi Tao Hongjing Biography" records: "Whenever the country has a major event in the country, it is always consulted, and there are often several letters in the middle of the month, and people are called the prime minister of the mountains." Such a scene can be imagined out of thin air: every time there is a major national event, the fast horses galloping from the Jiankang court are heard in the Middle of the MaoShan Mountains, and after Tao Hongjing reads the letter, his only words or a codex are accompanied by distant horses galloping towards the center of power. What is even more astonishing is the humility of Emperor Wu of Liang to Tao Hongjing: as soon as he received Tao Hongjing's book, he did not immediately review it, but lowered his humility, first burned incense to show his piety, and then carefully opened it to read it. It is rare among kings and courtiers to have such respect for the birthright, even obedience. The demonstration effect of Emperor Wu of Liang also led many high-ranking officials of the Liang Dynasty to enter the mountains to worship Tao Hongjing and knock on the "Tao Gate". Of course, the formal salute has also partially turned into a material boost, although Tao Hongjing is no longer an official, and naturally does not eat the official's Feng Lu, but he is definitely not a cold soldier in the world. Generally speaking, those who have been hidden since ancient times are not hidden; or they are learned and excellent, and they are not hidden. But here in Tao Hongjing, this law was obviously broken, and he actually came to a hidden, non-hidden, non-hidden, real and hidden, creating a transcendent realm for himself that was uninhibited and free to move forward and backward. It is precisely because he adheres to his original heart and is safe that he has made good achievements in various academic fields such as medicine, astronomical almanac, geography, military science, sword casting, scripture, literature, and Taoist rituals. His writings, counting seventy or eighty kinds, are scattered, and the surviving ones are "True Truth", "Tai Xuan Zhen Yi Ji Jing Dao Character", "True Spirit Position Karma Map", "Elbow Hundred And One Side", "Materia Medica Annotations", "Tao Hermitage Materia Medica", "Medicine General Recipe", etc., and the most outstanding achievements in the study of pharmacy. Tao Hongjing's retreat did not prevent him from practicing the strategy of the world, and the world out of the world seemed so flushed with him. He regarded fame and fortune as a floating cloud in the mountains, but the lofty ambition of building a meritorious career, through a few lines and a few words, thundered in the temples; even so, his posture of sitting on the forest spring and refusing to leave the mountain remained unchanged. So that today, nearly 1500 years after his immortality, people with an inquisitive heart or stones climbed Maoshan Mountain, or Xuan to the Green Cliff, looking for his looming and strange traces.
Column Editor-in-Chief: Huang Wei Text Editor: Huang Wei Title Image Source: Ye Qi Photography
Source: Author: Yu Jun