Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 236 Zhou Dunyi

After finishing their meal, they continued on their way, crossed the bridge, and turned onto East Street.

In the early morning, most bookstores and ink shops have just taken down their doors, and the air is filled with the unique smell of fresh ink and paper, replacing the bustling atmosphere of the marketplace.

The porters carrying book boxes and the mule carts transporting paper also began to get busy, their wheels rolling over the frosted stone slabs with a dull thud.

The main gate of the Imperial College faces East Street, and compared with the new and magnificent gate of the Imperial Academy to the north, it appears rather desolate.

There was only an old gatekeeper at the entrance, holding a hand warmer and dozing off in the gatehouse.

Cheng Hao, clearly familiar with the place, gently knocked on the window frame and called out, "Old man."

The old gatekeeper raised his eyelids slightly, saw that it was the brothers, mumbled a "hmm," and then closed his eyes again, which was considered as letting them pass.

Stepping into the Imperial College, a sense of desolation in late autumn washes over you.

The ancient cypress trees stand tall, their branches gnarled and strong, casting long shadows in the cool morning light.

The vast courtyard was deserted, with only the sound of the wind blowing through the withered leaves and the cawing of a few crows. The doors and windows of the lecture halls were tightly closed, and the corridors were covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves, clearly indicating that no one had swept them for a long time.

Occasionally, one or two young men dressed in the robes of imperial students would be seen walking by, either sleepily carrying a food box or hunching their necks and taking shortcuts, ignoring the two regulars, Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi, and no one paid any attention to the unfamiliar face, Lu Beigu.

This desolation contrasted sharply with the growing commotion in the Imperial Academy, which was just a wall away.

"This is the current state of the Imperial Academy."

Cheng Hao smiled wryly: "The judges and lecturers are mostly unwilling to come unless it is absolutely necessary. The students are even more undisciplined. Less than one in a hundred students actually come to listen to the lectures. Even Mr. Lianxi, who is a doctor, mostly stays behind closed doors to write books and think quietly. Teaching is secondary."

"Holding a position without doing any work, wasting public funds!" Cheng Yi frowned, his tone cold and hard. "It is called the highest institution of learning in the country. If it weren't for you, sir, cultivating yourself and lecturing here, this place would truly be a dead place, a laughing stock."

The three walked through the quiet corridors, around several deserted courtyards, and arrived at a more secluded courtyard.

Several stalks of green bamboo stood tall in the cold wind in the courtyard, adding a touch of vitality.

Cheng Hao stopped in front of the door, his expression becoming extremely respectful. He carefully straightened his clothes before raising his hand and gently knocking on the door with his knuckles.

"Students Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi, along with their friend Lu Beigu, a scholar from Sichuan, have come to pay their respects to you, sir."

Inside the door, all was silent.

The only sounds were the wind blowing through the courtyard and the soft rustling of bamboo leaves.

Just as Lu Beigu thought the owner of the courtyard was not there, or that the knocking had not been heard, the simple wooden door creaked open from the inside.

A middle-aged man in his forties appeared at the door.

He was not tall, dressed in dark blue clothes, and had a unique temperament, as if the restlessness of the world would naturally dissipate when it came into contact with him.

—This is Mr. Lianxi, Zhou Dunyi.

Zhou Dunyi's gaze first fell on the two Cheng brothers, who stood respectfully, and he nodded slightly, saying, "You've come." "Master," Cheng Hao greeted him and introduced, "This is Lu Beigu, a scholar from Sichuan who has come to the capital this year to prepare for the imperial examinations and is temporarily residing at Tianqing Temple. Although he is young, he is very insightful. A few days ago, at the Qingsong Society gathering, he was highly praised by Ouyang Xiu. In addition, he has always admired your moral character and literary works, especially the principles of 'Wuji and Taiji' and 'mutual dependence of movement and stillness' in your 'Explanation of the Diagram of the Supreme Ultimate.' Therefore, I have dared to bring him here today to pay my respects."

Zhou Dunyi's gaze lingered on Lu Beigu for a moment. Lu Beigu wondered if it was just his imagination, but he felt as if he had been "seen," as if all his complicated thoughts were laid bare before this wise man.

He quickly composed himself and bowed deeply: "Lu Beigu, a junior scholar from Sichuan, pays his respects to Master Lianxi."

A smile appeared on Zhou Dunyi's face, as gentle as ripples on an ancient well.

He stepped aside to clear the doorway: "No need for formalities. Since you were introduced by Bo Chun and Zheng Shu, and praised by Lord Ouyang, you must be a promising young talent. It's cold outside, come in and let's talk."

"Thank you, sir."

The three thanked them in unison and filed in.

The study was furnished very simply, even somewhat shabby.

The walls were lined with bookshelves, piled high with stacks of books and scrolls, and the air was filled with the unpleasant smell of old books.

A large desk stood by the window, neatly arranged with the Four Treasures of the Study. A stack of manuscripts covered in writing was held down by a paperweight, the ink still fresh, indicating that the owner had just been writing at the desk.

The most eye-catching feature is a hand-painted Tai Chi diagram hanging on the wall.

Beside the illustration are several lines of small annotations, written in an archaic style, explaining profound and subtle meanings such as "Taiji moves to generate Yang, when movement reaches its extreme it becomes still, and stillness generates Yin" and "The Five Elements are one Yin and Yang, Yin and Yang are one Taiji, and Taiji is originally Wuji."

The entire study contained almost nothing but books, writing brushes, ink, and this painting, yet it possessed an indescribable and inexplicable quality.

Zhou Dunyi gestured for them to sit on the wooden benches against the wall, while he himself sat back down in the main seat behind his desk.

His gaze fell on Lu Beigu again, and he asked the question directly.

"Young friend Lu comes from Sichuan. The roads to Sichuan are difficult, though one can ascend to the heavens. Yet, there is no shortage of talented people there. May I ask who your teacher is? What books have you read? And what are your insights into the concept of 'the ultimate void leading to the ultimate void'?"

Zhou Dunyi's words, though seemingly casual pleasantries, actually progressed step by step, directly addressing the core issue.

Asking about one's place of origin and lineage is to understand one's foundation; asking about the books one has read is to explore one's learning path; and finally, directly asking about one's understanding of the core propositions of "The Diagram of the Supreme Ultimate" is the real test and also the opportunity to guide the dialogue into its deeper aspects.

"I studied under Mr. Li Tian of Baisha, and read widely in classics, histories, philosophical works, and Buddhist scriptures. Although Sichuan is located in the southwest, since the late Tang and Five Dynasties, it has promoted education and revitalized the scholarly atmosphere. I was immersed in this environment and was influenced by what I saw and heard. I often think about the way of the sages and the changes of the times. However, my foundation is shallow and I have not yet found the right path. I only know to read widely and think carefully, and I dare not be biased towards one side."

Then, Lu Beigu's gaze swept over the Taiji Diagram on the wall, which contained the mysteries of the universe, and he slowly said.

"As for the meaning of 'from the limitless to the supreme ultimate' that you asked me, I am dull-witted and dare to speak presumptuously."

Lu Beigu laid bare his long-held understanding, combining it with his knowledge of historical changes and philosophical reflections.

"The Book of Changes says: 'The Book of Changes has the Supreme Ultimate, from which the Two Forms are born,' which speaks of the order of creation and transformation in the universe. Lao Tzu said: 'All things under heaven are born from existence, and existence is born from non-existence,' revealing the mystery of the mutual generation of existence and non-existence. Han scholars such as Zheng Xuan and others interpreted the 'Supreme Ultimate' as the 'undifferentiated primordial energy.' During the Wei and Jin dynasties, the metaphysical trend flourished, and Wang Bi advocated 'valuing non-existence,' taking 'non-existence' as the essence of all things. However, his theory may have degenerated into abstruse emptiness and gradually drifted away from the Confucian purpose of governing the world. As for Buddhism, its theories of 'emptiness' and 'emptiness of nature and dependent origination' also say that all phenomena are empty and the essence is still. However, its drawback is that it may easily lead people to indulge in nihilism and forget human ethics and the principles of nature."

(End of this chapter)