"Don't be happy for things, don't be sad for yourself. If you live high in a temple, you will worry about your people; If you stay away from the river, you will worry about your husband. I'm worried about going in and going out, but when can I be happy? It must be said: worry about the world first, and then enjoy the world. " This famous saying in Yueyang Tower is a true portrayal of Fan Zhongyan's concern for the country and the people.
The Story of Yueyang Tower was written in Li Qing for six years (1046), and Fan Zhongyan's thought of caring for the country and the people was formed as early as his youth. Ouyang Xiu wrote on Fan Zhongyan's tombstone: "There are few big festivals. They are rich and poor, notorious, happy and unmoved, but interested in the world. They often say to themselves: scholars worry about the world first, and then enjoy the world. " [37] In addition, Ouyang Xiu wrote a letter to Fan Zhongyan after learning that Fan Zhongyan knew the news of Suzhou in the first year of Jingyou. Among them, there are such words: "Xi Wen boarded the court and talked about governing the country, regardless of right and wrong, regardless of his own safety. Although he has the joy of the southeast, how can he be happy for the worries of the world!" [38] Ouyang Xiu called Fan Zhongyan "a person who cares about the country and the people" in his letter. Obviously, he is quite familiar with Fan Zhongyan, so it is reasonable to write Fan Zhongyan on Fan Zhongyan's tombstone with little anxiety.
When Fan Zhongyan was a teenager, he envisioned two careers and two lifestyles for his future. One is to be a good doctor, the other is to be a good doctor. Song Zhao Shan Yu's "Self-policing" Volume 8 records:
When Fan Wenzheng was young, he tasted the Yiling Temple and prayed, "Is he in a good situation?" Don't. After praying, I said, "Otherwise, I want to be a good doctor." . Nor is it allowed. Then he sighed: "A husband can't benefit the people, and it is not a gentleman's ambition to make peace with the past." Another day, someone called Gong Yue: "The husband's ambition is naturally to look at each other. Do you have any desire for medical skills, but you have nothing to lose? " The duke said, "Well, that's right! The ancients had a cloud and were always good at saving people, so they did not abandon people; Always be good at preserving things, so there is no abandonment. And my husband is also interested in learning. If he wants to see the holy king, he has to do his own thing, thinking that ordinary people in the world are not affected by it. If you push yourself into the ditch, you can be as good as the little one and give birth to the people. If you can't get it, your husband can save people and gain things, and you can't be a good doctor. If you can become a good doctor, you can treat your relatives' diseases, save people's lives, and keep you healthy and immortal. No one who can give birth to a villain is a good doctor.
It can be seen from this record that Fan Zhongyan's two life concepts, one is to save the world and the other is to save the people, both of which are based on caring for the country and the people. After Fan Zhongyan became an official, this sense of worrying about the country and the people became stronger. For five years, he was just a small official like Dali Temple Cheng. During the mourning period of his mother's death, he pushed his troubles to the troubles of the world. Driven by a strong sense of urgency, he wrote a book of nearly ten thousand words [39]. In view of the shortcomings in all aspects at that time, I put forward my own reform suggestions. Describing the reason for writing a book, he said: "I am single-minded and dare not forget the worries of the world."
As a local official, he said, "It is my duty to care about the country and the people." [40] As a frontier commander, when Xixia was unjustly demoted for responding to Zhao Yuanhao's letters, he said, "I have left my job, but I am still worried about my country. I don't know how to stop it Although it is enough, it is expensive. " [4 1] Fan Zhongyan, as an admonition officer in the DPRK, was ordered to patrol the disaster-stricken areas in Jianghuai, retrieve a handful of weeds used by the victims to satisfy their hunger, and bring them to the emperor. "Ask the Sixth Palace for instructions, and avoid extravagance" [42]. He also praised the disaster relief deeds of Wu Zunlu, a local official in the disaster area. Later, when Wu Zunlu died, Fan Zhongyan wrote a eulogy, saying with deep affection that Wu Zunlu "worried about the country and the people and died young" [43]. It seems that Fan Zhongyan is not unaware that worrying about the country and the people will consume his mind, but he has never changed his original intention. Because of his preoccupation, Fan Zhongyan leads a heavy life, and there are few happy and relaxed times. Even when drinking with friends, Fan Zhongyan will think of Li's people, "I hope the world is happy, just like my predecessor" [44].
The ups and downs of Guanhai also made Fan Zhongyan eager to retreat. But this was quickly stopped by his strong sense of worrying about the country and the people. He thought, "Peng Yi is suitable for leisure. Who can ask injustice?" [45]
As can be seen from the above, Fan Zhongyan's concern for the country and the people is a sober consciousness. So it's still quite strong and persistent. "If the edge gives jade, I don't know how to stop it. Although the feet can be cut, the walls are still expensive. " This continuous concern for the country and the people is an extension of a strong sense of professionalism and responsibility. On the contrary, a person who has no sense of responsibility for the country and the people will only be selfish and pitiful, and will never have such a noble heart of worrying about the country and the people.
Then, how did Fan Zhongyan's strong sense of worrying about the country and the people come into being? I think there are at least several factors.
Objectively speaking, firstly, the social and political environment of "scholar-officials ruling the world" in the Song Dynasty created Fan Zhongyan's political responsibility of taking the world as his own responsibility. So he thinks about people's livelihood and national security everywhere. Second, by the time Fan Zhongyan became an official, the Dasong Dynasty had been established for more than 80 years. This huge car has begun to slide from the peak to the bottom, and various crises have sprouted. In Fan Zhongyan's words, it is "the discipline system, the Japanese invasion of the moon, the combination of officials, the people are trapped outside, the barbarians are arrogant, and the thieves are rampant" [46]. This political reality cannot but strengthen Fan Zhongyan's sense of hardship with a high sense of responsibility.
Subjectively, first, Fan Zhongyan was at the bottom before becoming an official, and he had a deep understanding of the sufferings of the people and the oppression of the people by local corrupt officials and various rich people. He said: "I was born in poverty, and I am deeply worried. I know the sufferings of the people and the false feelings of things." [47] Therefore, when he chose a good doctor as his future career in his youth, he was determined to save the world in from the mire and save the people from hanging upside down, forming a deep sense of caring for the country and the people. Second, the active entry of Confucianism into the WTO and the long-term emphasis on Tao Zhu have firmly established Fan Zhongyan's ambition of taking the world as his responsibility. Since we take the world as our responsibility, there is bound to be a concern for the country and the people. Fan Zhongyan said that his sense of hardship is the result of the interpretation of "the ancients were benevolent." Fan Zhongyan highly praised Han Yu's literary achievements in the Tang Dynasty and advocated the ancient prose movement in the Northern Song Dynasty. [48] His thoughts were also deeply influenced by a generation of great scholars such as Han Yu. Fan Zhongyan is concerned about the country and the people, and is willing to risk his life. He also followed the example of Han Yu. He said in the book "Shang Shu Yan Shi Lang": "Han Yu claims to be worried about the world because of the gains and losses of current politics, or to taste it." In short, the political environment of "scholar-officials ruling the world", the increasingly serious social problems and the demeanor of ancient people with lofty ideals all shaped Fan Zhongyan's character of "worrying about the world first, and enjoying the world later".
Perhaps, in the eyes of some people today, Fan Zhongyan is very tired. Indeed, he is very tired. However, if a person or a group of people, especially those who are engaged in official business for officials, live very tired, they may be able to relax those who are already very tired.