author of many commentaries on the Classics

author of many commentaries on the Classics

Ma Rong (79-166) was born in Maoling County, Fufeng County (now Xingping City, Shaanxi Province). In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Ma Yuan, a famous Confucian scholar, was a descendant of Ma Yuan.

In his early years, he traveled with Zhixun, a Confucian scholar, and was famous for refusing the imperial court to appoint him several times. During the reign of Emperor Han an, Ma integrated into the official general Deng Gu's shogunate. He successively served as the commander-in-chief of xiaoshulang, prefectural Gongcao, Yilang, and general. He was engaged in Zhonglang, Wudu, and Nanjun Taishou. Later, he was shaved and exiled for offending the General Liang Ji. He attempted to commit suicide on the way, so he was excused. Ren Yilang again collated Confucian classics in Dongguan, and later left because of illness. In the ninth year of Yanxi (166), Emperor Huan of the Han Dynasty, Ma Rong died at the age of 88. In the Tang Dynasty, he was entitled to Confucius, and in the Song Dynasty, he was granted the title of Fu Feng Bo.

Ma Rong is very knowledgeable, especially in the study of ancient classics. He integrated various theories and annotated Qun Jing all over the world, which made the study of ancient Chinese classics mature and indicated that the development of the study of ancient Chinese classics in Han Dynasty would enter a new period. Lu Zhi and Zheng Xuan were his disciples. In addition, there are Fu, song and other works, whose anthologies have been lost, and Ma Jichang's anthologies are compiled by the people of Ming Dynasty.

Overview image source: < / I >

Life of the characters

Broadcom classics

Ma Rong, whose name is Ji Chang, is the son of Ma Yan, a great craftsman. His ancestor was Ma Yuan, a famous general of the Eastern Han Dynasty. His speech and posture are beautiful, talented and good at speech. Before that, Zhixun, a native of Jingzhao, lived in seclusion in Nanshan and taught his disciples Confucianism. He should not be recruited by prefectures or prefectures, and was well-known in Guanxi area. Ma Rong followed him on a study tour and learned classics. Zhixun appreciated Ma Rong's talent, so he married his daughter to him.

A new official career

In the second year of Yongchu (108), general Deng Jia heard about Ma Rong's reputation, so he called him to serve as a sacrificial servant. However, Ma Rong didn't like the job, so he didn't take it. They live between Wudu and Hanyang in Liangzhou. At that time, Qiang people rose up and disturbed the border. The price of rice soared. From the west of Hangu pass, one by one people died of starvation on the road. Ma Rong also suffered from hunger and poverty, so he regretted it and said to his friend, "the ancients said," the left hand is according to the map of the world, and the right hand cuts its throat. This kind of thing that harms life by name is not done by a fool. " Why? Life is the most valuable. Now, in order to be afraid of the ridicule of the folk music people, the priceless body will be destroyed, which is not in line with the truth of Laozi and Zhuangzi. " So he was called up to be an official.

In the fourth year of Yongchu period (110 years), Ma Rong was worshipped as a scholar and went to dongguandian school to collect books. At that time, Empress Dowager Deng was in power, and Deng's brothers were in charge. Generally speaking, scholars of Confucianism thought that morality could be promoted and martial arts should be abolished, so they stopped practicing martial arts and did not talk about the methods of battle. As a result, crafty thieves have sprung up and the country is unprepared. Ma Rong is very dissatisfied with this. He thinks that the way of literature and martial arts is valued by sages. Gold, wood, water, fire and earth are all used together. No one can be abandoned. How can we not talk about martial arts?

Shangshu is imprisoned

In the second year of the Yuan Dynasty (115), Ma Rong went to Guangcheng song to satirize and admonish the imperial court. After the song of Guangcheng was delivered, it offended the Deng family who was in power. Ma Rong had to stay in Dongguan and could not be promoted for ten years. Ma Rong went home after his nephew died. Empress Dowager Deng was furious when she heard that Ma Rong didn't obey the imperial court's order and wanted to be an official in the prefecture, so she ordered that Ma Rong should not be an official.

In the first year of Jianguang (121), Empress Dowager Deng passed away and Emperor Han'an was in charge of the government. He called Ma Rong back to the Ministry. He also served as the head of the Royal stables in Hejian. At that time, Emperor an visited Daizong (Mount Tai) in the East, and Ma Rong presented Ode to the East. Emperor an was surprised by his literary talent, so he called him a doctor.

In the first year of Yanguang (125), Liu Yi, Marquis of BEIXIANG, ascended to the throne. Ma Rong dismissed his official post because of illness and served as a meritorious official in the county.

In the second year of Yangjia period (133), the imperial court ordered the officials to recommend a simple man. Cen Qi, the captain of Chengmen school, recommended Ma Rong. Ma Rong rushed to the army and took the post of Yilang after examination. He was appointed Zhonglang by Liang Shang, the general of the army, and later promoted to the prefect of Wudu. At that time, the Western Qiang rebelled, and Ma Xian, the general of the expedition, and Hu Chou, the commander of the school of protecting the Qiang, led the army to fight, but they did not advance. Ma Rong knew that Ma Xian would be defeated, so Shangshu asked for permission to lead 5000 soldiers to attack, but the imperial court did not listen. Ma rongyoushangshu thinks that Qiang people and northern minorities may invade and should be prepared. Soon, the Qiang people in Longxi County rebelled and Wuhuan invaded Shangjun, just as Ma Rong expected.

Surrender to the powerful

After Ma Rong was promoted three times, he was the prefect of Nanjun when Emperor Huan was in power. Before, Ma Rong offended General Liang Ji for some things. Liang Ji suggested that the relevant departments falsely accused Ma Rong of corruption in the county, so he was removed from office, shaved and exiled to Shuofang county. Ma Rong's attempted suicide was exonerated. Ren Yilang again collated Confucian classics in Dongguan, and took part in the continuation of Hanji (historically known as Dongguan Hanji). Later, he left his job because of illness.

At the beginning, Ma Rong was punished by the Deng family, so he did not dare to offend the powerful again. Later, he drafted a memorial for Liang Ji to frame Li Gu, the Taiwei. Wu You scolded him and said, "the crime of Li Gong is under your hands. If Mr. Li is killed, what will you look like to see the world? " He was also a general of Liang Ji in the ode to the west, so he was not shamed by upright people.

Old age and death

In the ninth year of Yanxi (166), Ma Rong died at home. At the age of 88, he was given a funeral order.

Main achievements

Confucian classics

The study of Ma Rong belongs to a typical study of ancient Chinese classics. In the history of the development of Confucian classics, Ma Rong started the pioneering work of integrating various schools and annotating all kinds of classics. His achievements in annotating classics made the ancient classics reach a mature position, indicating that the development of Confucian classics in Han Dynasty will enter a new period.

Ma Rong's long-term work in Dongguan school has provided him with favorable conditions to integrate various schools of learning and annotate ancient classics. He is good at absorbing the academic research achievements of predecessors. He once wanted to annotate Zuo's spring and Autumn Annals. When he saw the annotations of Jia Kui and Zheng Zhong, he said: "Jia Jun is good but not good, Zheng Jun is good but not good. I don't have much to say. " He integrated the advantages of Jia and Zheng families and wrote the theory of similarities and differences in the three biographies of the spring and Autumn Annals, which is a monograph of the spring and Autumn Annals. Ma Rong also discussed some divergent issues with Liu Huan, the northern prefect. According to the textual research, Ma Rong's annotation of the book of changes originated from Fei's book of changes, and he also adopted Zixia's theory, as well as Meng's, Liangqiu's and Jingfang's theories of the book of changes. Note "Shangshu", take Zheng's father and son and Jia Kui said. In addition to Mao's poems, Han's poems are also used in the annotation of poems. In addition, Ma Rong also annotated Sanli, Xiaojing, Lunyu, Laozi, Huainanzi, Lisao and lienvzhuan.

teaching

Ma Rong is a high-quality, knowledgeable and common Confucian. He teaches disciples, often thousands of people. Lu Zhi from Zhuo county and Zheng Xuan from Beihai are all his students. Ma Rong's character is open-minded and willful, and he is not restricted by Confucianism. His houses, utensils and clothes all advocate luxury. He often sits in the high hall, hangs a red curtain, teaches his disciples in front of him, and sets up female music behind the curtain. His disciples taught them in order, and few of them entered the room. Ma Rong is also good at drumming, playing flute and acting willfully.

Ma Rong's practice of "teaching students in the front, and then listing female music" had a certain impact on the later Qing Tan family's breaking and abandoning the ethics in the Wei and Jin Dynasties.

personal works

According to the biography of Ma Rong in the book of the later Han Dynasty, he wrote 21 Fu, song, tablet, Lei, Shu, Ji, Biao, Zou, Qiyan, Qinge, countermeasure and Yiling.

Most of Ma Rong's Classics have been lost. There are both Yuhan Shanfang series and hanxuetang series compiled by the Qing Dynasty. There are also Fu Song and other works, some of which have been lost, and Ma Ji Chang Ji compiled by people of Ming Dynasty. Ma Rong is good at playing the flute and playing the Guqin. According to Zhaoming Wenxuan, he wrote flute Fu.

Character evaluation

Hua Qiao: in the past, Liu Xiang's father and son were the world's classic historical books; Ma RONGTONG's erudite, three into the east view. ② And the two emperors of the Ming and Zhang dynasties, their ancestors stated this idea, so the later generations argued for the study of Tuwei, in order to correct the world and obtain information. It is the common Confucianists Jia Kui, Ma Rong, Zhang Heng, Zhu Mu, Cui yuan and Xun Shuang who resent it. If this is the case, they all think it is vain and should be collected.

Fan Ye et al. In the book of the later Han Dynasty: 1. Will Ma Rong be interested in Juzhen when he gives his life to the Deng family? In the end, he indulged himself in extravagance and pleasure. The party attached him to ridicule him. Few people who can consolidate their knowledge and indulge their desires. If a man is bitter, he will feel less proud of his integrity; if he is thick, he will be deeply concerned about his safety. Those who are not afraid of climbing high are the people of Xumi; those who are not afraid of sitting down are the children of thousands of gold. The original plan is just for suo'an. Things and I have different views, and they laugh at each other even more. ② The Qi family, the chief of the season, is only able to communicate with each other. There are many classical works in the garden. Yongshi admires quietness, and his heart is exquisite. He denounced the Jin merchants and moved to the north. He was born in Liang huaidong, and his name was ruined. ③ If Li Gu and Zhou Juzhi are Hongshen of Yuanmo, Zuo Xiong and Huang Qiong of Zhenggu, Huan Yan and Yang Hou of Confucianism, Cui yuan and Ma Rong of articles, good cadres of herdsmen of Wu you, Su Zhang, Zong Yi and luanba, grand rules of generals Pang Shen and Yu Xu, Wang Gong and Zhang Hao of modest mind to push scholars, Zhang Gang and Du Qiao of straight road to correct violations, Lang Yi of yin and Yang of detailed, Zhang Heng of wonderful skills, Tokyo scholars, Yu Zisheng Why not.

Liu Jun: Ma Ronghai is a great scholar in China.

Liu Xie: Ma Rong is a great scholar. He thinks and understands highly. He accepts the classics and models, and supports the reality.

Xiao Tong's selected works of Zhaoming: it is elegant, refined in numeration, good in temperament, and can play the drum and flute.

Xu Xuan: the Duke and marquis will recover, and the west side of the pass will sweep the power of Meng Qi (Ma Chao). Wenwu did not fall, South County was the virtue of season.

Hong Mai: according to Ma Rong's and Huangfu's rules, it is easy to see that the soldiers he invited were all less than 5000, but he refused to follow them. This is because he knew that it was not easy for Emperor Xuan to accept the book of Zhao Chongguo, and that the so-called Ming Lord could be loyal advice.

Xu Jun: Scholars' hunger and cold have changed at the beginning, and the authorities prefer not to drag their train. What zhangsha learned, but he was trapped in Zhongliang's book.

Chen Yuanliang: Ji changqia

Chinese PinYin : Ma Rong