The meaning of Hengqu's four sentences is: to establish the mind of birth and birth for the world, to point out a road for the common people to follow, to inherit the knowledge that Confucius and Mencius and other previous saints did not pass on, and to provide a good foundation for future generations of the world. Create a foundation of everlasting peace. Because of its simplicity and grandeur, it has always been praised by people.

From: "Hengqu Quotations" by Zhang Zai.

Original text: "Establish a mind for the heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the living and the people, carry forward the unique knowledge for the saints, and create peace for all generations."

Interpretation: A scholar’s ??heart should be for the world, his destiny should be for all peoples, he should inherit and carry forward the unique knowledge of the saints, and he should create a foundation of peace for all generations. This describes the aspirations and pursuits that scholars should have: The world, all peoples, the way of sages, and the foundation of peace.

Extended information:

About the author:

Zhang Zai (1020-1077), courtesy name Zihou, was a great Confucian in the Northern Song Dynasty, a philosopher, and one of the founders of Neo-Confucianism. The founder of "Guan Xue", a branch of Neo-Confucianism, he was honored as a sage and was enshrined in the 38th place in the west veranda of the Confucius Temple. His ancestral home is Daliang (now Kaifeng, Henan), and he moved to Hengqu Town, Fengxiang Prefecture (now Mei County, Shaanxi). Scholars call him Mr. Hengqu.

Jiayou, Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty, became a Jinshi in the second year of his career. He was awarded the title of Chongwen Academy and learned about Taichang Liyuan. Later, his younger brother Zhang Jian, the supervisory censor, was demoted for opposing Wang Anshi's reform, and Hengqu resigned. After returning home, he focused on reading and teaching, and founded "Guan Xue", which became famous for a while. In the tenth year of Xining (1077), Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty died of illness in Tongguan.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Four Sentences in Hengqu