Hedong School is also called Hefen School. The Fen River passes through the land east of Hedong from north to south, so the Hedong School is also called the Hefen School.

The school represented by Ming Xue Xuan. Xuan was named because he was from Hedong (now Shanxi). He adhered to the learning of Zhou Dunyi and Ercheng, and especially praised Zhu Xi, saying that "Zhu Xi's merits are not inferior to Mencius'" ("Book of Readings"). It is believed that "since I returned from Kaoting, the Ming Dynasty has been established. I don't have to worry about writing, I just have to practice it" ("History of Ming Dynasty·Xue Xuan Biography"). Confronted with Wang Shouren and Yao Jiang School. Cultivation of oneself and teaching of others is based on Cheng and Zhu, focusing on restoring one’s nature. Revising Zhu Xi's theory that "Li comes first and Qi comes later", it is believed that "Li is only in Qi, not in any order", and "there is no reason in the world without Qi, nor is there any Qi without reason" ("Book of Readings"). It is also believed that "qi has gathering and dispersing, but reason has no gathering and dispersing" (ibid.). He taught in his hometown for more than ten years and had many disciples, which had a considerable influence on future generations. Disciples Yan Yuxi, Zhang Ding, and Zhang Jie, said the propagandist, were all famous for their time. The main figures of this faction include Duan Jian, Wang Hongru, Zhou Hui, Xue Jingzhi, Lu Nan, Lu Qian, Zhang Jie, Li Ting, Guo Yong, Yang Yingzhao, etc. See "Chongren School".

The historical introduction is as follows:

1. Hedong - the "root" of Chinese civilization

The Yellow River turns south from Laoniu Bay. Then he turned around at Fenglingdu and headed east, holding a piece of fertile land in his arms. This piece of fertile land was named "Hedong". "Hedong" in the narrow sense refers to the area around today's Yuncheng and Linfen cities in Shanxi Province (i.e. southern Shanxi); in the broad sense "Hedong" refers to the area in the south and central part of present-day Shanxi Province (i.e. southern Shanxi and central Shanxi) or the entire territory of Shanxi.

Hedong is just west of the Taihang Mountains and east of the Yellow River Grand Canyon. It is surrounded by mountains and rivers, has a moderate temperature (located at 35-40 degrees north latitude), and has a famous salt pool - Jiechi, which provides the salt of life. , is the ideal place for Chinese ancestors to live and live. The discovery of the fossils of Eunapithecus sinensis in Zhaili, Yuanqu County, Hedong has overturned the conclusion of many paleontologists in the world that "higher primates originated in North Africa" ??and pushed the evolution of apes forward by 5 million years. The discovery of the Xihoudu site in Ruicheng County, Hedong Province has pushed the history of human use of fire back to 1.8 million years. More than 400 Neolithic sites have been discovered in Hedong...

Nuwa, the legendary earliest goddess of creation in China and the mother of China, was born in Hedong (today's Wanrong, Yuncheng), and the Yellow Emperor was the first to open the door to her in her birthplace. An altar for worshiping ancestors. About 2600 BC, the Yellow Emperor fought against Chiyou in the ancient Hedong area, quelling the first large-scale tribal war in Chinese history, and controlled the salt pond resources, allowing the Chinese ancestors to enjoy them in an orderly manner. According to historical records, Yao, Shun, and Yu all had their capitals in Hedong, that is, "Yao had his capital in Pingyang (now Linfen), Shun's capital was Puban (now Yongji), and Yu had his capital in Anyi (now Xia County)"...

Many Archaeologists assert that Hedong is the cradle of Chinese civilization. As the famous archaeologist Professor Su Bingqi said: "Southern Shanxi was the 'emperor's capital' at that time. The 'emperor's capital' was called 'Zhong', so it was called 'China', and the word 'China' appeared at this time "Imperial capital" means that the ancient Hedong area was the ancestor of the Chinese nation and the center of activities for the creation and development of Chinese civilization." The archaeologist further pointed out that this place in southern Shanxi has been preserved as far back as 7,000 years ago. "Cultural traditions dating back more than 2,000 years" are the "tap roots" of the "total root system of the Chinese nation".

2. The sages and Confucians of Hedong and their unique contributions to the development of Confucianism

In the magical thick soil of Hedong, the development of Confucianism as the core, backbone and main line of Chinese culture In history, great Confucian scholars emerge one after another, and they are inexhaustible. The context is clear and can be documented one by one. Ten of them are now selected for brief description and analysis:

(1) Two Saints of Hedong

Fu Shuo - a famous sage prime minister and an important pioneer in the enlightenment period of Confucian culture

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A native of Pinglu, Shanxi, who started out as a slave and became a prime minister, assisted Wu Ding, the 22nd emperor of the Shang Dynasty, in power for nearly 60 years and realized the resurgence of the Yin and Shang Dynasties, 800 years earlier than Confucius. Revered as a saint. Pinglu County still retains and continues the grand sacrificial activities held by the people for thousands of years on Fu Shuo's birthday every year (the eighth day of the fourth lunar month).

His main contribution is to political Confucianism, and his main ideas are reflected in "Three Chapters on Fate". The kingly political ideal of "the king is wise, the minister is loyal, the people are good, and the country is Yin" is revealed from this, " The motto "It is not difficult to know, but difficult to do" has a profound influence on the development and improvement of the Confucian view of knowledge and action.

Guan Gong - a martial sage and a faithful practitioner of Confucian culture

A native of Changping, Xie County, Hedong County (now Changping Village, Changping Township, Yanhu District, Yuncheng) at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The posthumous titles given to Guan Yu in the past dynasties ranged from marquis to duke, king, and emperor. They were even on par with Confucius. He was called the two sages of civility and martial arts, and was listed in the national sacrificial canon. The people's worship of Guan Gong was so extreme that every village once built related temples. , Hedong area has the largest martial arts temple in the country - Jiezhou Guandi Temple.

Although Guan Yu did not leave any grand speeches, the book he read most in his life was the Spring and Autumn Classic. The special book is in the classics of Chinese culture and is deeply engraved in the spirit of the Chinese people. It is not only bestowed upon generations and admired by all people, but also the most respected among the three religions. It has a huge influence on the development of Chinese political Confucianism and religious Confucianism.

(2) The Eight Great Confucians in Hedong

1. Bu Zixia—a famous disciple of Confucius, one of the seventy-two sages, and the founder of the Hefen School

( 507 BC ~?), a famous businessman named Zixia, was a scholar of the Jin Dynasty in the late Spring and Autumn Period and one of the 72 famous disciples of Confucius. After the death of Confucius, Zixia stayed in mourning at Confucius's tomb for three years and came to the Xihe area of ??Wei State (now Hejin, Yuncheng, Shanxi) to give lectures, where he married and lived. After his death, he was buried in the south of Dongxin Village, Hejin City. Known for his "literature", he was once the governor of Ju Fu. In the second year of Xiangfu's reign (1009), Dazhong of the Song Dynasty, he was granted the title of "Hedong Gong".

Main contributions:

1. Proposed the idea of ??"being an official and being excellent will lead to learning, and being excellent in learning will lead to being an official", which helped Wei Wenhou take the lead in ruling the roost and be respected as a national teacher, and developed Political Confucianism;

2. Teaching and disseminating Confucianism. It is said that books such as "Poetry" and "Spring and Autumn" were handed down by him;

3. Teaching to disciples and teaching There were more than 300 scholars. Even Wei Wenhou and the celebrities at that time Wu Qi, Li Kui, Gong Yanggao, Gu Liangchi, Duan Qianmu, etc. all worshiped him as their teacher, laying an important foundation for the formation of the Hefen School.

2. Xun Kuang - the master of the thoughts of the pre-Qin scholars and the last great Confucian in the pre-Qin Dynasty

(approximately 336 BC - 238 BC) surnamed Sun, Zhao Guo (now southern Shanxi) He was the master of the "Hundred Schools of Thought" in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, a famous philosopher and thinker, and the last master of Pre-Qin Confucianism. He successively worked in politics or lectured in Yan, Qi, Zhao, Qin, Chu and other countries. He was the leader of Jixia Academy and served as the Lanling Order. Xunzi's works can be found in the book "Xunzi". Among them, 22 chapters including "Encouragement to Learning", "Cultivating oneself", "Being Strict", "Lunun of Heaven", "Rectification of Names" and "Evil Nature" were all written by Xunzi himself.

Xunzi’s significant contribution to Confucianism lies in his gaining the best ideas from the pre-Qin scholars and creatively enriching, transforming and developing Confucianism. 1. Proposed the idea of ??"promoting rituals and respecting laws" and developed political Confucianism. 2. Re-establish Jixia Academy, educate people and preach, and become the leader of Jixia Academy, "the most teacher" and "the third is the wine sacrifice". 3. As one of the most accomplished logicians in the pre-Qin Dynasty, Xunzi's contribution to logic research was mainly in conceptual theory, and he proposed "making names to refer to reality." 4. Creative contributions to philosophical Confucianism: 1. Proposed the theory of "evil nature" and "false nature"; 2. Proposed the "clear distinction between human beings" and "the differences between human beings and animals". "Group" theory; 3. From the perspective of nature, he proposed the dialectical viewpoint of "the distinction between heaven and man"; 4. He proposed the theory of "the spirit is born from the form", forming a simple dialectical method in epistemology; 5. From the perspective of history It advocates the connection between ancient and modern times and the inheritance-based gains and losses.

3. Wang Tong - one of the "Five Sons" and the pioneer of Neo-Confucianism who proposed that "three religions can be one"

(581-617) courtesy name Zhongyan, Longmen County, Hedong County, Sui Dynasty (Today's Wanrong, Shanxi), posthumously named "Wen Zhongzi", was born in a family of officials and Confucianists. He was erudite and ambitious. He "became a teacher at the age of fifteen". His book "Twelve Strategies for Taiping" was praised by the world. Its main ideas are reflected in the book "Zhongshuo". In the Three Character Classic, he is called the "Five Sons" together with the pre-Qin masters Xun, Lao, and Zhuang and the Western Han Dynasty scholar Yang Xiong.

Main contributions:

1. In response to the changes of the times, he promoted the Confucian ideal of kingship, created the "Hefen School" and developed political Confucianism;

2. The first one to clearly put forward from the Confucian standpoint that "three religions can be one", advocating that Confucianism should be the main body, integrating Buddhism and Taoism, and taking their strengths to transform and develop Confucianism;

3. Criticized and eliminated the historical view of destiny centered on the superstition of divine connection and prophecy since the Han Dynasty, constructed a new ideological system that is very close to Neo-Confucianism, and made direct ideological preparations for the formation of Neo-Confucianism trends that have influenced China for nearly a thousand years;

4. He founded the Hefen School. At its peak, there were more than a thousand followers, and many of his disciples held important positions in ministers and ministers, such as Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng, Li Jing, Du Ruhui, etc., who were the "Three Scholars" of the Tang Dynasty. After a hundred years of work, the Simen people have made more than half of their contribution.”

4. Liu Zongyuan - one of the "Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties", a literary scholar of the Tang Dynasty,

(773--819), named Zihou, his ancestral home is Jie County, Puzhou (now Yun, Shanxi) City Jiezhou). Zhenyuan Jinshi, who was demoted to Yongzhou Sima after the failure of the "Yongzhen Reform". Together with Han Yu, he advocated the ancient prose movement and was called "Han Liu". He was later listed as one of the "Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties". Since his youth, he has set up the ideal of "assisting time and material things" and "making contributions to the world", and he has put it into practice with enthusiasm. But the times did not provide him with more opportunities, so his talents were not put to use and he was reviled for life. Liu Zongyuan failed to save the Tang Dynasty from political decline, but he established a monument in the history of literature and philosophy.

Main contributions:

1. Emphasis on learning rather than focusing on chapters and sentences, and applying it to the world. Taking it as his own responsibility to practice the "Tao" of the saints, "only to be honest and righteous as his ambition, and to promote the Tao of Yao, Shun and Confucius as his mission", he participated in the Yongzhen Reform, advocated the ancient prose movement, and left a record of diligent government in Yongzhou and Liuzhou.

2. It advocated the synthesis of hundreds of schools of thought and the unification of Confucianism and Buddhism. He advocated the Lu Chun school's academic approach that emphasizes "communication", opposed "the party withered bamboo, protects the rotten bones", did not adhere to the theory of tradition, and did not simply reject Buddhism like Han Yu when dealing with foreign cultures, and advocated using its "Yunyu" to support "My way" shows the style of everyone who does not stick to one clan, is comprehensive and inclusive, and creates an outstanding academic character of openness and inclusiveness in Confucian culture.

3. Advocate writing to convey the truth and the "ancient style of writing", and create a new style of writing.

5. Sun Fu - one of the "Three Masters of the Early Song Dynasty" and an important figure in the brewing period of Neo-Confucianism

(992-1057), named Ming Fu, lived in Pingyang, Jinzhou, Northern Song Dynasty (today's A native of Linfen, he was once promoted to Jinshi but not his younger brother. He retired to Mount Tai to lecture and write books, and was known as Mr. Taishan in the world. Together with Hu Yuan (Mr. Anding) and Shi Jie (Mr. Zu Lai), he is also known as the Three Masters. He is a pioneer of Neo-Confucianism and played an important role in the creation and formation of Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty.

6. Sima Guang - one of the "Six Masters of Taoism", a famous historian and politician

(1019-1086), courtesy name Junshi, lived in Xia County, Shaanxi Province, Northern Song Dynasty ( He was a famous historian and politician from Xia County in present-day Shanxi Province. He was also known as "Mr. Sushui" because of his ancestral home in Sushui. Together with Zhou Dunyi, Cheng Hao, Cheng Yi, Shao Yong and Zhang Zai, they were called "the Six Masters of Taoism" by Zhu Xi.

Main contributions:

1. In the theory of human nature, he adheres to the middle way, "respects Yang and suppresses Mencius and Xun", develops Yang Xiong's idea of ??"good and evil natures", and puts forward the idea of ??"good and evil" in human nature. "Both" theory;

2. Confucianism advocates openness and tolerance in terms of orthodoxy, and praises Xun and Yang, which is in sharp contrast to the Song Confucianism's derogation of Yang and Xun;

3. Leave thousands of people behind "Zi Zhi Tong Jian", which has served as the standard reference book for Chinese politics for many years, and its political practice as a famous official of a generation, have creatively developed political Confucianism.

4. Contributed to the pioneering and development of Neo-Confucianism.

7. Xue Xuan - a famous Neo-Confucian, educator and politician in the Ming Dynasty, leader of the Hedong School in the Ming Dynasty

(1389-1464), courtesy name Dewen, nickname Jingxuan, posthumous title Wenqing , a native of Pingyuan Village, Hejin County, Shanxi (now Wanrong County), was born in a family with vocational education. He received strict Confucian education since he was a child. He was able to recite the "Primary School" and "Four Books" at the age of seven, and he was able to understand the "Five Classics" and "Four Books" at the age of thirteen or fourteen.

His main works include: "Collected Works (twenty-four volumes)", "Study Records (eleven volumes)", "Principles of Neo-Confucianism", "Political Famous Quotes", "Cewen", "Study Records II", etc.

Main contributions:

1. Transform and develop Neo-Confucianism and promote the rise of practical learning. In order to adapt to the requirements of the times, he carried out an effective critical transformation of Zhu Xi's Neo-Confucianism, and established a systematic practical theory and style of study based on the cosmology and epistemological ideas of simple materialism. It played a direct leading role in the rise of the practical thought trend in the Ming Dynasty. It is known as the "Practical Confucianism" that "learning is valued by practice".

2. Founded the Hedong School of Ming Dynasty. At the beginning, there were more than 70 disciples and wandering questioners; in the later period, his disciples spread all over the world, making the Hedong School a influential and influential school, gaining widespread admiration and belief. One of the two main schools that merged with Jiang School.

3. Promote the resurgence of Guanxue. A large number of scholars of Guan studies studied under Xue Xuan, especially Lü Nan, who was the master of Guan studies. He was not only an important scholar of Xue's later studies and the Hedong school, but also a famous figure in the resurgence of Guan studies. He became the leader of Hedong studies and The intermediary of Guanzhong Studies. To a certain extent, it was Xue Xuan who created the resurgence of Guanxue in the Ming Dynasty. 4. Be politically loyal and practice Confucianism. He entered the official career at the age of forty and became the minister of Dali Temple in Nanjing, minister of Dali Temple in Beijing, Tongyi doctor, and bachelor of Hanlin Academy. In his political career, he emphasized attaching importance to the people, loving the people, "loving people first", being honest, upright, bright and handsome, and became a straight minister praised by people of his time. He spent most of his political life engaged in the work of "prosecutor" and "judge". His outstanding Confucian law enforcement practices are of great reference for the construction of today's rule of morality and rule of law.

8. Fu Shan - a social activist and thinker in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties

(1607-1684) was a native of Xicun, Yangqu County, Taiyuan Prefecture (now the northern suburb of Taiyuan), with the courtesy name Qingzhu , later changed to Qingzhu, and had many nicknames, such as Gong Ta, Gong Zhi Ta, Zhu Yi Tao Ren, Shi Tao Ren, etc. When Fu Shan was young, he received a strict family education. He was well-read and memorized. After reading it several times, he could recite it. Later, he studied at Sanli Academy and became one of the favored disciples of Yuan Jixian, the upright minister of Hai Nei Xian Zhi in the late Ming Dynasty. As an intellectual in the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty, Fu Shan showed his character and integrity throughout his life that "wealth cannot be lascivious, poverty cannot be moved, and power cannot be surrendered."

Main contributions:

1. Adhere to justice and integrity and practice Confucian ideal personality. When the Qing army entered Guan Ming Dynasty and died, Fu Shan heard the news and wrote a sad poem: "Weeping for the difficulty of holding the national document, relying on the orders of relatives to escape." In order to express his resistance to the shaving of his hair by the Qing court, he became a Taoist monk, wore a red Taoist robe, and called himself "Taoist Zhuyi" and also nicknamed "Taoist Shi". Those wearing Zhu Yi, whose surname is Zhu, imply nostalgia for the fallen Ming Dynasty; those wearing Shi Dao, who are as strong as stone, imply that they will never surrender to the Qing Dynasty. Became a comrade with Gu Yanwu and organized an anti-Qing organization. Refusing to be granted the title of "Secretary of the Cabinet" by Emperor Kangxi showed the character and integrity of a man with lofty ideals who "has high ambitions and high demeanor, and is as calm as a stone".

2. Find new ways to study sub-science. Breaking through the fetters of attaching importance to theory since the Song and Ming Dynasties, he broke away from the research scope of ordinary scholars in the early Qing Dynasty, which was centered on Confucian classics, and opened up ways to study Confucianism, becoming the founder of the study of Confucianism after the Qing Dynasty.

3. Erudite and talented, proficient in all "six arts". In all aspects of poetry, literature, calligraphy, painting, medicine, etc., Fu Shan was good at learning and using them, and he had profound attainments. His breadth of knowledge and great achievements were unparalleled among the Confucian scholars in the early Qing Dynasty.

3. Characteristics of the Hedong (or Hefen) School

The Fen River passes through the land of Hedong from north to south, so the Hedong School is also called the Hefen School. The academic characteristics of the Hedong elite represented by the above-mentioned sages and great Confucians can be summarized in 16 words, namely: Confucianism as the foundation, inclusiveness, management and application, and keeping pace with the times.

Confucianism is the basis

What is Confucianism? Confucianism can be divided into a broad sense and a narrow sense. Confucianism in the narrow sense refers to Confucianism, which is the doctrine founded by Confucius with benevolence and etiquette as its core. Confucianism in the broad sense is the crystallization of the collective wisdom of the outstanding ancestors of the Chinese nation. It has been inherited for three thousand years since Confucius. , for two thousand years, has been the essence, core, backbone or mainstream of Chinese culture. It is the source of living water that guides China's continuous prosperity and progress and the Chinese nation's continuous civilization and prosperity.

The sages of Hedong all adhere to the essence of Confucianism, carefully guard and continuously build a wise spiritual home for themselves, their relatives, their fellow countrymen, their country, and the world.

Eclectic

The Hedong region is the main stage for the exchange and integration of the farming civilization of the Central Plains and the northern nomadic culture. The people of Hedong are naturally more inclusive and open academically than other regions. , whether it is Wang Tong's "three religions can be one", or Liu Zongyuan's not advocating one sect and embracing Buddhism and Confucianism, or Sima Guang not following the trend of Song Confucianism and praising Xun, Yang, etc., we can all see from it This kind of excellent academic quality and mind does not blindly exclude heterogeneous cultures, is open to all rivers, and is inclusive. This is an important reason why Hefen's academic qualifications have lasted for hundreds of generations and have not declined for thousands of years. Talents have emerged in large numbers, and great scholars have emerged one after another, and can continue to be reborn.

Governing the world and applying it

Emphasizing that learning is more important than putting it into practice and applying what you have learned, and that meritorious deeds are more important than words, this is almost the characteristic of the sages and great Confucians in Hedong. Almost all of them He has made achievements in many fields such as politics, society, education, and culture. He has spared no effort in the practice and research of Chinese political Confucianism. However, what follows is a pity. Although many people have great merits, great virtues, and great ideas, they are often difficult to be enshrined or praised by future generations because of insufficient support. Their status in Confucian culture is not commensurate with their contributions. For example: many people know that there was Wang Yangming, a great scholar, and the Yaojiang school in the Ming Dynasty, but they don’t know that there was Xue Xuan, a great scholar, and the Hedong school (Huang Zongxi’s sectarian views in "Confucianism in the Ming Dynasty" are certainly one of the important reasons, but this is a more important reason); Shanxi Everyone knows the great writer Wang Bo, but few people know about his grandfather, the great thinker Wang Tong.

Walking with the Times

Confucianism is a long river. It passes through high gorges, across deserts, and has experienced ups and downs. It has flowed from ancient times to the present, and has passed through magnificent waves and narrow streams. She has encountered interruptions, but today, she has clearly stepped out of the trough and is waiting for the rivers to converge and surge forward. Confucianism is a big tree. It has experienced lush spring and summer, fruitful autumn, and cold winter. Now, it is showing its tenacious and inexhaustible vitality to the new century. After experiencing a short period of low ebb since 1919, the Hedong School ushered in a vigorous spring of life.