The New Biography of Han Lingdi

Chapter 169 Confucianism
The Hundred Schools of Philosophy is a general term for various academic schools during the Spring and Autumn Period, Warring States Period, and Qin and Han Dynasties. According to the records of "Hanshu Yiwenzhi", there are 189 schools with 4324 works.

Subsequent books such as "Suishu·Jingjizhi" and "Sikuquanshu Zongmu" recorded that there are actually thousands of "Hundred Schools of Philosophy".However, there are only a few dozen of the most widely spread, influential, and most famous ones.In summary, only 12 schools have been developed into schools.Among the hundreds of schools of thought, the most widely circulated are Legalism, Taoism, Mohism, Confucianism, Yin-Yang School, Famous School, Miscellaneous School, Farm School, Novelist, Strategist, Military School, and Physician.

China has created splendid culture and art in ancient times with distinctive characteristics.

The books that Liu Hong exchanged from the system are basically the types of these schools.

"Your Majesty, just now the servant came to report that a hundred families entered Luoyang." Wei Zhongxian came in and reported to Liu Hong.

Since the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, hundreds of schools were dismissed, and Confucianism was the only one.During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, basically some small schools among the hundreds of schools disappeared, and now there are only 12 big schools left.

"How many people from Confucianism came this time?" Liu Hong knew that if he wanted to promote a hundred schools of thought, the biggest problem was Confucianism.

"There are four representatives sent by Confucianism. They are Cheng Ping, Liu Da, Zhong Shan, and Wu Village." Wei Zhongxian replied.

"Let the four of them enter the palace tomorrow. I want to interview them." Liu Hong said, the most important thing now is to get the support of the Confucianists, or to get the Confucianists to compromise.

"Understood." Wei Zhongxian said.

As an academic tradition that has been handed down for nearly 3000 years, Liu Hong believes that Confucianism is actually a huge treasure, and there are many theories in it that can still be used for reference until later generations.

But if there is only one school of thought like Confucianism, it would be abnormal for an empire.In later generations Confucianism was castrated from the Song Dynasty.

He lost the true meaning of Confucius' establishment of Confucianism at the beginning, or put a lot of clear rules and precepts on Confucianism that did not exist in the first place.

Dong Zhongshu ousted all schools of thought and only respected Confucianism. His Confucianism was combined with Legalism to produce a new religion. He is not Confucianism in the sense of Confucius, but has already combined with Legalism to a certain extent.

......... dividing line
In the early morning of the next day, four people came to the palace according to Liu Hong's order.All four of them are representative figures of Confucianism, contemporary masters.

They know very well what the Hundred Schools Academy means to Confucianism?For other things in the future, it may be the best opportunity for Baijia Academy to rejuvenate them, but for Confucianism, this is undoubtedly a challenge to their leadership position.

The four came to Liu Hong following the guidance of the servant.Before they left, many Confucian students came to them and expressed their attitude, that is, they would absolutely not allow the establishment of a hundred schools of thought.

Of course, more Confucian students still choose to wait and see. For them, if this Baijia College can benefit them, they would not mind agreeing to the establishment of this college.

The four of them are also contradictory. On the one hand, they clearly know that this Hundred Schools Academy is a disastrous blow to Confucianism, but on the other hand, they are unwilling to oppose this academy.

Now is the era of imperial power, if you offend Liu Hong, it is not a wise choice for Ru talk, but if you follow Liu Hong, the Hundred Schools Academy may blow the status of Confucianism to the ground.

In this tangled situation, the four met Liu Hong.

Liu Hong was reading a book, and what he took out were Confucian classics. These books had been circulated in the late Qin Dynasty.

After the four people met Liu Hong, Liu Hong didn't ask them, and they didn't speak, but Cheng Ping's eyes were sharper, and he saw that Liu Hong's book was written in the Book of Music.

There are many books next to Liu Hong, but because they are all placed there, they have no way to read the names on them clearly.

"Your Majesty, is the book in your hand the Book of Music?" Cheng Ping asked tremblingly.

The Book of Music had already been lost in the late Qin Dynasty, and many of their Confucian classics also disappeared during this period.

It will be great news for Confucianism if the Book of Music can be seen again.

"It's the Book of Music. A wandering Taoist priest handed these books to me not long ago. You can take a look at them?" Liu Hong graciously handed the books to Cheng Ping and asked them to take a look. Is this exactly their Confucian music.

The four of them stabilized the surprise in their hearts. After taking the book tremblingly, they opened it tremblingly. At first glance, they understood that this book is definitely the Book of Music.

"Your Majesty, please publish this book so that we Confucian students can learn from it," Wu Cun said.

"Is it the Book of Music?" Liu Hong asked, "This book is about to be placed in hundreds of schools, and all students in the world can read it."

Liu Hong's words put the four people on alert. Liu Hong didn't seem to be prepared for this book, so he just handed it over for nothing.

"Come here, take a look at these books and see if they are yours too." Liu Hong pointed to the books on the table next to them and said to the four people.

They were attracted by the Book of Music just now, and they didn't think of other books at all.The emergence of the Four Books and Five Classics and Music Classics made other books seem not so important.

After listening to Liu Hong's words, they put down the books and walked towards those books with various names on them.

Each of them picked up a book and thought about it carefully. After a while, they glanced at each other and nodded faintly. They knew that these books were also books of Confucianism that had long since disappeared.

"During Emperor Wu's time, Confucianism was abolished and Confucianism was overthrown. I also liked Confucianism, but I hoped that other schools would also come to study in this academy." Liu Hong saw that they already knew this. The book stopped being careless and spoke directly.

"But can Your Majesty give an explanation to all Confucian students in the world?" Cheng Ping asked.

"All the students of Baijia Academy who enter the academy must study the Four Books and Five Classics of Confucianism, and then choose other schools according to their personal interests. What do you think?" Liu Hong said his conditions.

"Must learn Confucianism?" Liu Da asked, if they had to learn Confucianism, then they were actually Confucian students, and it didn't seem to affect the exclusive status of Confucianism.

Although other schools of thought were allowed to emerge, the status of Confucianism could not be shaken in a short period of time.

"I like the ideas of loyalty to the emperor, patriotism, honesty, and friendliness in the Confucian school. If they enter the academy, they must study the Four Books and Five Classics as their foundation."

"After a period of time, they start to learn other schools. At that time, they can choose at will. If Confucian students still want to learn Confucianism, they can continue to learn Confucianism. I will not interfere too much." Liu Hong assured them.

(End of this chapter)