Practical application means that learning must be beneficial to national affairs. The word pragmatic was put forward by thinkers Wang Fuzhi, Huang Zongxi and Gu in Ming and Qing Dynasties. They believe that learning and quoting ancient articles and actions should focus on managing affairs and saving the world, and oppose the unrealistic and empty learning of pseudo-Neo-Confucianism at that time, which has a great influence on future generations.

Historical tracing

The thought of practical application plays an important role in pre-Qin classics. Although there are many ambiguities in the academic opinions of the pre-Qin philosophers, later generations have become accustomed to using the term "a hundred schools of thought contend" to summarize the academic characteristics of hundred schools of thought in this period.

However, if we analyze and summarize the main characteristics of various schools including Confucianism from a bird's eye view and try to express them in the most concise language, then the author is willing to summarize them as the way of being a man, the way of reading and the way of governing the country. Its main contents are all about how to be a man, how to discuss knowledge and how to govern the country in order to save the world and the people.

Therefore, all the pre-Qin philosophers "learned to join the WTO". Their original intention and pursuit of learning are basically to deal with the problems raised by the real society and explore the "economic way" of the country and the world. The knowledge of pre-Qin philosophers is the knowledge of universities and the true knowledge of saving the world and the people.

They never put themselves out of the world to pursue the so-called "pure learning" in learning, but consciously take it as their unshirkable responsibility to know their own times, influence or transform their own times. Therefore, they do not hesitate to add a heavy burden to themselves.

China traditional intellectuals' sense of hardship, responsibility, responsibility and mission all come from this. If we say that the study of pre-Qin philosophers in a broad sense is the cornerstone and classic of our traditional scholarship; Then, at the same time, we should admit that "practical application" is not only the core value of building a traditional academic system, but also the essence and purpose of learning.