Zhan Ruoshui

Zhan Ruoshui

Zhan Ruoshui (1466-1560) is a famous thinker, philosopher, statesman, educator, calligrapher and great Confucian in Ming Dynasty. He was born in ganquandu, Zengcheng County, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. In the fifth year of Hongzhi of Ming Dynasty (1492), Zhan Ruoshui took part in the local examination. Later, he went to Xinhui county to worship Chen Xianzhang, a famous Confucianist, as a teacher. Because he was promoted by Yan Shi, his knowledge improved greatly and was deeply appreciated by Chen, he became a descendant of Baisha theory. Hongzhi eighteen years (1505) to participate in the examination, in the second Jinshi, has been awarded the Imperial Academy editor, Shi Du. In the third year of Jiajing reign (1524), he was promoted to the Imperial College of Nanjing to offer sacrifices to the emperor. Later, he served as the Minister of rites, the Minister of officials, and the Minister of military affairs in Nanjing, and pursued Shaobao as a gift to the crown prince.

On the basis of inheriting Chen Xianzhang's theory, Zhan Ruoshui put forward the concepts of "studying things to understand the natural law" and "benevolence should be recognized before learning, and benevolence should be integrated with all things in the world". He founded the "Ganquan school" and eventually became a major school of Neo Confucianism. He and Wang Yangming's "Yangming school" were called "Wang zhanzhi school". Zhan Ruoshui founded nearly 40 academies all over the country, with thousands of students all over the country, which promoted the development and prosperity of mind learning in Ming Dynasty. Zhan Ruoshui's main students are LV Huai, Hong Jueshan, Tang Shu, he Qian, Jiang Xin, Guo Lei, Feng Congwu, etc.

Zhan Ruoshui set up many academies in Guangdong to support his later studies, which greatly promoted the process of Lingnan culture. He died in Guangzhou on April 20, 1560. His works include biography of Er Li Jing, Chunqiu zhengzhuan, Guyue Jing Zhuan, Shengxue Gewu Tong, Xinxing tushuo, Baisha Shijiao Jiezhu, etc., and Ganquan Ji has been handed down. His deeds can be found in the history of the Ming Dynasty, the general annals of Guangdong and the annals of Zengcheng county.

Life of the characters

Zhan Ruoshui was born on October 13 (November 20), the second year of Chenghua in Ming Dynasty, in Shabei village, ganquandu, Zengcheng county (now Xintang Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou). His father Zhan Ying died early and was raised by his mother Chen. Ruoshui was a smart boy. He started school at the age of 14. At the age of 16, he went to study in Fuxiang, Guangzhou. He was elected in the fifth year of Hongzhi in Ming Dynasty (1492). At the age of 29, he went to Jiangmen to study in Chen Xianzhang (No. Baisha). He resolutely burned the "guide" (certificate for entrance examination) to show his determination. He devoted himself to the study of mind and nature, and made great progress in his studies over the past few years. As a result of being promoted by the strict teacher, his knowledge has greatly improved and won Chen's appreciation, so he has become a descendant of Baisha's theory. In March of the 11th year of Hongzhi, Baisha praised his academic achievements in his letter, saying: "it's a good book to write. You can understand the natural law everywhere in daily use. If you write this whip, you can't find a good place for the ancients.". In the second year, "Jiangmen diaotai" was handed down to Ruoshui. He wrote the postscript of "a poem to Jiangmen diaotai": "when Dharma came, he passed on his clothes as a letter. Jiangmen diaotai, the clothes of the sick man! I wish you all the best when you are in charge of Minze. Take care! Take care In 1500, Chen Xianzhang died and Zhan Ruoshui mourned for him for three years. In the 17th year of Hongzhi, he was ordered by his mother to take an examination in the north. He was appreciated by Zhang Mao, a wine worshiper of the Imperial College, and studied in Nanjing Imperial College. In 1505, Zhang Yuanzhen and Yang Tinghe took part in the examination of the Imperial College in Beijing. He is the editor of Hanlin Academy. After Ruoshui entered his official career, he had a chance to spread his Neo Confucianism in the Central Plains. At that time, he talked with Wang Yangming (Shou ren), Lu Nan, Wang Chong and other scholars, and his reputation was growing. Ruoshui takes "recognizing the natural law everywhere" as its religion, claiming that "Yangming is different from me in speaking of heart. Yangming's so-called heart refers to the square inch, and I call it heart, which embodies all things without inheriting.". At that time, it was called "Wang zhanzhi's study". In the seventh year of Zhengde (1512), he was granted the title of king of Anan. On the 17th of the first month of the next year, he arrived at the state of Anan. When he returned to the state, he gave thanks to the king of Anan for his generous feedback. He won the hearts of people from afar and wrote the ode to Nanjiao. When she was 50 years old, her mother died of illness and was buried at home for three years. After full dress, he went to Xiqiao Mountain to build an academy, and gathered together disciples to give lectures for 4 years. If water teaching pays attention to methods, students should learn etiquette first, understand learning rules, sit and concentrate now, and then teach. In 1522, Yushi Wu Tingju and Yushi Zhu Jie recommended Ruoshui to the imperial court, and then returned to Beijing to resume his post, supplemented the compilation of the Hanlin academy, and completed the actual record of Wuzong. The next year, he transferred to the Imperial Academy. In the next year, he was appointed as the Imperial College of Nanjing to offer sacrifices to the emperor, and wrote the book of mind and nature. In the fourth year of the calendar, he was promoted to the right Shilang of the Ministry of Li in Nanjing, and the next year he was transferred to the left Shilang of the Ministry of Li. In the third year of Jiajing reign (1524), he was promoted to Nanjing Guozijian Jijiu, and later served as the Minister of Li, Li and Bing in Nanjing. After becoming a Jinshi, Zhan Ruoshui devoted himself to setting up academies to teach Neo Confucianism in Nanjing, Yangzhou, Panyu, Zengcheng, Nanhai and other places, especially spreading Baisha theory. In his lectures, he put forward the concepts of "learning from things and understanding of heavenly principles everywhere" and "benevolence is the first thing to learn, and benevolence is the unity of heaven and earth". He made innovations in carrying forward Baisha's theory and eventually became a major school of Neo Confucianism, known as "the study of sweet spring". At that time, the "guangpai" of Neo Confucianism founded by him and the "zheshue" founded by Wang Yangming, another great Confucian of Neo Confucianism, were called "Wang zhanzhixue", which respectively held the bull's ear of Neo Confucianism in the middle of Ming Dynasty. His influence reached almost all over the country, with more than 4000 disciples. Because there are so many people who study from him, they often teach students in the way of inter disciple teaching. At the age of 68, he was promoted from the Minister of rites to minister of rites in Nanjing. At the age of 71, he was transferred to the official Department of Nanjing. At the age of 74, he was transferred to the Minister of the Ministry of war of Nanjing, and served as a counsellor of aircraft maintenance. At this time, the king of Annan, Mo Dengyong, rebelled, and Emperor Jiajing wanted to fight in person. He opposed to sending troops if he didn't understand the book of governing power on the water. Because he didn't agree with the Minister of culture and military, he asked to be an official. He became an official at the age of 75. He ended his official career and went back to his hometown along the southeast mountains and rivers. After returning to Guangzhou, Tianguan Academy was built near the mansion to give lectures (Tianguan was formerly known as Tongguan, because Ruoshui was the Minister of the Ministry of officials, commonly known as "Tianguan", so people called Tianguan as "tianguanli", which is now in the area of Dongfeng Middle Road in Guangzhou). Ruoshuiguan established academies in the two capitals. He wrote books and lectured constantly. After returning to Guangdong, he concentrated on lecturing. Therefore, Guangdong new language said: "Ganquan Weng Guan is the supreme minister. He takes some vegetarian food and gives more than 3900 followers to his family. In Huicheng (Guangzhou), there are Tianguan, Xiaoyu, Baiyun, Shangtang, Pujian and other academies. Or to Xiqiao, back to Zengcheng, dengluofu, Nanxiang lectures. There are many academies in Xiqiao, Zengcheng, Nanxiangshan, dougang and Ganquan. Ruoshui is knowledgeable, rich in works, calligraphy, life works and poems. Before he became an official, he built a hook platform on the Bank of Xintang River to commemorate his teacher Chen Baisha and give lectures and rest. Zhan Ruoshui paid close attention to his hometown's education and set up many academies in Guangdong to support his postgraduates. He created many talents and promoted the process of Lingnan culture. In May of the 19th year of Jiajing (1540), he was allowed to retire and return to his hometown. Since then, he has been teaching all over Guangdong. In October of the 19th year of Jiajing (1540), Zhan Ruoshui returned to Guangdong. In his later years, Zhan Ruoshui devoted himself to cultural and educational activities in Guangzhou, building academies and promoting lectures. He set up residences and built academies in Luofu Mountain, Xiqiao Mountain, Tianguan in Guangzhou City and Ganquan in Zengcheng City. He lived in Luofu in spring, Xiqiao in summer, Tianguan in autumn, and Ganquan in winter. He lectured at four seasons and never abandoned string songs. He also built a memorial platform in Tianguan jingshe. Every time zhengshuo, winter solstice and Confucius' birthday, he would lead the gentry in the countryside to pay homage to the direction of the capital, so as to show that they would not forget the intention of the imperial court. Zhan Ruoshui devoted his whole life to establishing schools and spreading Neo Confucianism. In addition to his simple living expenses, he spent the rest of his salary on purchasing library fields and supporting scholars from all over the world. These library fields are distributed in Guangzhou, Nanhai, Zengcheng, BOLUO and Qujiang in Guangdong Province. In other places, such as Nanjing, Yangzhou, Chizhou and Huizhou in Anhui Province, Wuyi in Fujian Province and Nanyue in Hunan Province, Zhan Ruoshui also set up libraries Field. In order to prevent some students from being extravagant and wasteful, Zhan Ruoshui specially compiled the words of advocating frugality to show his instruction. On April 22, 1560, Zhan Ruoshui died of illness in Yushan jingshe, Guangzhou. He was 95 years old. Jiajing 42 years on October 25 buried tiancanling (Zengcheng Yonghe town). In the first year of Longqing (1567), Shaobao, the crown prince, was awarded the title of Wenjian. His posthumous works include "mind and nature" and "Shengxue gewutong".

The inheritor of heart learning

Zhan Ruoshui is Chen Baisha's descendant and inherits and develops Baisha's theory of mind. Zhan Ruoshui's "all things, mind" is the direct inheritance of Chen Xianzhang's "although there are many things, it's in me". From "although there are many things, it's in me" to "all things, it's in mind" comes down in one continuous line. On this basis, Zhan Ruoshui attributed the core proposition of "recognizing the natural law everywhere" to the theory of mind. "The so-called natural reason is embodied in the mind, that is, the study of mind." Zhan Ruoshui and Chen Baisha's philosophy of mind come down in one continuous line. Zhan Ruoshui classifies "recognizing the natural law everywhere" into "recognizing the natural law in the heart". He does not think that "recognizing the natural law everywhere" is only an internal method. It also contains an external method, which is a method of integrating internal and external. "My so-called everywhere cloud, at will, with the home, with the country, with the world, cover with its quiet, feel when ear." Zhan Ruoshui's theory of mind is the unity of inner and outer, which embodies the inner and outer philosophy from Chen Baisha to Zhan Ruoshui

Chinese PinYin : Zhan Ruo Shui