“Establish a mind for the heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the living people, carry forward the unique knowledge for the past saints, and create peace for all generations.”: Establish a mind for heaven and earth, and point out a road for the people to follow together. Inherit the knowledge that Confucius and Mencius and other previous saints did not pass on, and create a foundation of eternal peace for future generations of the world.

Zhang Zai (1020-December 6, 1077), courtesy name Zihou, was a thinker, educator and one of the founders of Neo-Confucianism in the Northern Song Dynasty. . He is known as Mr. Hengqu in the world, and is honored as Zhang Zi. He is honored as a sage and is enshrined in the 38th place in the west veranda of the Confucius Temple. His famous sayings of "establishing a mind for the heaven and earth, establishing a destiny for the livelihood of the people, carrying on the unique knowledge for the past saints, and creating peace for all generations" were called "Four Sentences of Hengqu" by contemporary philosopher Feng Youlan.

Zhang Zaijin was a follow-up official and a local sage when he retired. With his practical actions, he opened up a new situation for Confucian scholars to assume the role under the historical conditions at that time. Zeng Guofan, the "first official of the ZTE" in the late Qing Dynasty, once wrote the article "Portraits of Sages and Philosophers", selecting 32 great figures in Chinese history who have shone like stars for thousands of years, as a path for future generations to study:

Wen Zhou, Confucius and Mencius, Ban Ma Zuozhuang, Ge Lu Fanma, Zhou Cheng Zhu Zhang, Han Liu Ouzeng, Li Dusu Huang, Xu Zheng Duma, Gu Qin and King Yao.

Among them, "Zhou Cheng, Zhu Zhang" refers to Zhou Dunyi, Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi brothers (regarded as one person), Zhu Xi and Zhang Zai respectively. In the middle of the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhang Zai lectured in Guanzhong, and his academic thoughts were called "Guan Studies". Together with Zhou Dunyi's "Lian Studies", Er Cheng's "Luo Studies", and Zhu Xi's "Min Studies" in the Southern Song Dynasty, they were also called the Four Universities of the Song Dynasty. group.

"After Meng Ke's death, in the millennium, the only people who have succeeded in conveying Confucius's heart are Zhou, Cheng, Zhang and Zhu." This has been the common wisdom of China for eight hundred years, "Lianluo Pass" "Fujian" and "Zhou Cheng, Zhang Zhu" have become the mantra for people to call Song Dynasty scholars. For the sake of rhyme, Zeng Guofan changed it to "Zhou Cheng, Zhu Zhang".

Extended information:

Every sentence of "Hengqu Four Sentences" is well established, providing a useful reference for the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics.

For Zhang Zai, one of the founders of Neo-Confucianism, the biggest challenge he faced at that time was the rise of Buddhism and Laoism, especially Buddhism. The brightest minds in the world were attracted to it. Confucianism, as the backbone of Chinese local culture, , cultural confidence has been greatly challenged.

“Since ancient times, the words of slander, obscenity, evil, and escape have flourished together. Anyone who has come out of the Buddhist family for thousands of years has been independent and fearless, confident and self-confident, and has surpassed others. How can one stand upright among them, compare right and wrong, and calculate gains and losses? "A benevolent person is a human being." Zhang Zai creatively criticized and absorbed Buddhism, founded the Guanxue school based on Qi Lun philosophy, and participated in the foundation of it. Neo-Confucianism is "to carry forward the unique learning of the past saints", and its purpose is also to "establish a heart for heaven and earth", to uphold the spirit of people in heaven and earth, and to rebuild the spiritual world of the Chinese people.

“The benevolent regard heaven, earth, and all things as one.” Confucian scholars are determined to make everything in the world perfect and complete. They cannot just be satisfied with themselves or a few gentlemen. Confucius said: "The old take care of it, the friends trust it, the young cherish it." To have such a scene is to "establish a destiny for the livelihood of the people."

Reference materials: Baidu Encyclopedia-Four Sentences at Hengqu?

China Communist Party News Network-Zhang Zai and his "Four Sentences at Hengqu"