Ouyang Xiu: Jade is not thoughtful, it is not a tool

Ouyang Xiu was a famous politician, writer and historian of the Northern Song Dynasty. He was a diligent reader, talented, diligent in his pen, and extremely accomplished in literature. The Doctrine of Teachings is the spiritual wealth left to his second son, Ouyang Yi, in the vast historical books and combined with his own experience.

First of all, let's get to know Ouyang Xiuqiren. Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072), courtesy name Yongshu (永叔), was born in Luling, Jiangxi (present-day Yongfeng County, Ji'an, Jiangxi), and was born in Mianzhou (present-day Mianyang, Sichuan). In the eighth year of Emperor Renzong of Song (1030), Ouyang Xiujinshi and the first. During his lifetime, he successively served as an official in the three dynasties of Emperor Renzong, Emperor Yingzong, and Emperor Shenzong, and became an official to the Rank of Hanlin Scholar, a Privy Councillor, and a Counselor in Government Affairs. Ouyang Xiu was an upright man, paying attention to the selection of latecomers, supporting Fan Zhongyan's reform movement, and in his later years his thinking tended to be conservative, and later together with Sima Guang opposed Wang Anshi's "new law". After his death, his posthumous title was "Wen Zhong", so he was also generally called Ouyang Wenzhong.

Ouyang Xiu, together with Han Yu, Liu Zongyuan, Su Shi, Su Xun, Su Rui, Wang Anshi, and Zeng Gong, was collectively known as the "Eight Greats of the Tang and Song Dynasties", and he was the leader of the Literary Circle of the Song Dynasty, and together with Han Yu, Liu Zongyuan, and Su Shi, he was collectively known as the "Four Great Masters of Ancient Articles". Ouyang Xiu developed Han Yu's ancient texts and led the Northern Song Dynasty poetry reform movement. Ouyang Xiu created a new generation of literary styles in the Northern Song Dynasty based on his correct theory of ancient literature, and his prose creations were highly accomplished. At the same time, he also changed the style of poetry and the style of words. He and Song Qi co-authored the New Book of Tang and compiled the New Five Dynasties History, indicating that he had high historical achievements. Now passed down is the "Ouyang Wenzhong Collection".

So, what is the specific content of Ouyang Xiu's "Doctrine of Teachings"? What can we learn from this?

Jade is not a tool, it is not a tool; people do not learn, they do not know. However, jade is a thing, and there is an unchanging constant virtue, although it is not considered to be a tool, but it is not harmful to jade. Human nature, because of things, is migrated. If you don't learn, you will give up a gentleman and become a villain, can you not read it? Fu Yi.

This text is from the "Ouyang Xiu Complete Collection and Pen Sayings", which is explained in the current words:

If jade is not carved, it cannot become an artifact; if one does not learn, one does not understand the truth. However, jade, as a substance, has a constant character that cannot be changed, and even if it is not carved into an artifact, it still does not damage its nature as jade. Human character will change with the influence of external objects. If people do not learn, they will give up becoming gentlemen and become villains, how can they not think about this truth? This is what the Father said to you (Ouyang Yi).

When Ouyang Xiu was 4 years old, his father died, and the family was very poor, but his mother was very strict about education. In order to reduce expenses, Ouyang Xiu's mother used reeds and charcoal as pens to teach Ouyang Xiu to write on the ground, which is the story of "painting Ogi godson". His mother often used the story of the ancients to study hard to educate him, under the influence of his mother, Ouyang Xiu also expressed in his family training that he wanted his son to develop a good habit of loving reading, and learn the principles of doing things from him. This "Doctrine of Teachings" was written when he was educating his second son, Ouyang Yi, encouraging his son to study hard and improve his moral cultivation. This is the purpose of the Doctrine of Teachings.

Ouyang Xiu discussed the dialectical relationship between "jade" and "man" in the Doctrine of Teachings. What he meant was that jade could not be loved without being carved and polished. If one cannot calm down and is not tempered, one cannot become a gentleman of noble character or make a difference. In today's society, material development, desire is rampant, if people do not study hard, they will do nothing, lose their spiritual direction, and will not find happiness and happiness. Therefore, the aphorisms in the Doctrine of Teachings are actually helping us, constantly reminding ourselves, reflecting on ourselves, wiping away the desires and dust in our hearts, and restoring the original pure face of our hearts. We study hard and work hard to have a happier and more meaningful life. In the face of unhealthy trends in reality, if there is no good family education and family style, it is easy to embark on the evil road and crooked road. Ouyang Xiu admonished his son to be an upright person and to follow the right path in the "Doctrine of Teachings", which played a great role in guiding Ouyang Yi to be an official and a person.

In the Doctrine of Teachings, it is pointed out that "the nature of man is transferred because of things." If you look closely, you will find that there are indeed many such examples in history. The Three Character Sutra, which we are familiar with, says, "Xi Mengmu, choose your neighbor." "During the Warring States period, Mencius's mother moved three times in order to educate Meng Ke well, just to find a good learning environment for Mencius. Meng Mu finally settled down near the school, so that Mengzi could always be close to the benevolent, grow up in the atmosphere of teachers and classmates, and get a good influence. In the end, Mencius did not live up to his mother's expectations and became a generation of Confucian sages.

Therefore, we often say that those who are close to Zhu are red, and those who are close to ink are black. The same is true of doing things as a man, and if you are close to the benevolent, you will become good; if you are close to the wicked, you will learn from the bad, which is an indisputable truth. Just as cinnabar will turn red, and the ink next to it will turn black. Xun Zi also said: "In the midst of the ponygm, it is not straight; the white sand is in nirvana, and it is black." What he meant was that the grass grows in the hemp bushes and will grow straight without support; the white sand will become as black as the black mud when it mixes with the black mud. So, that's what "the environment makes people." Therefore, the words and deeds of the parents' families are precious, the child's behavior will be affected by the parents, if in a family, the parents and elders have a lot of bad habits, will deeply affect the child, such as smoking, drinking, gambling and so on. Therefore, the family is the child's first school.

In addition, Ouyang Xiu is also good at identifying and cultivating talents. Su Shi, Zeng Gong, Wang Anshi and others he had recommended, and history proved that they were indeed talents, and they were all valued by the imperial court later. Moreover, the Song Dynasty poetry reform movement led by Ouyang Xiu aimed at inheriting and carrying forward the ancient text, removing its dross and taking its essence, which had a major impact. The personalities and literary achievements of Su Shi, Zeng Gong, Wang Anshi and others complement each other, and Ouyang Xiu's teachings and influences can be seen behind them. Therefore, Ouyang Xiu's broad mind, the identification and cultivation of talents, and his contribution to the cause of literary innovation have made future generations truly feel the strength of his personality.

The jade mentioned in the Doctrine of Teachings has unchanging and constant properties, but the human mind changes with the changes in the external environment. Life is like a boat against the current, if you do not advance, you will retreat, if there is no habit of hard work and studiousness, it is likely to be far away from the Tao karma, from a gentleman to a villain, you must not be cautious and careful. Moreover, in a person's life, if there is no goal, direction, and habit of learning, it is inevitable that there will be confusion and helplessness, and there will be no faith in learning, and they will be overwhelmed and regretful.

Through the study of Ouyang Xiu's "Doctrine of Teachings", we have a deeper understanding of the dialectical relationship between "jade" and "people". Among them, the famous saying, "Jade is not thoughtful, not a tool" can be described as a good saying, which is thought-provoking and leads people to goodness.

◎ This article was originally published in the "People's Political Consultative Conference Daily" (author Wang Jie), the source network, the copyright of the picture and text belongs to the original author, if there is infringement, please contact to delete.