Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 270 All-Round Genius
After a moment of contemplation, Lu Beigu slowly spoke, “Zen Master Qisong questioned the reality and knowability of ‘qi’ based on the principles of ‘all phenomena are consciousness-only’ and ‘dependent origination and emptiness.’ This is the foundation of Buddhist theory and is exceptionally insightful. However, his so-called ‘real reality’ is also a state realized by ‘consciousness,’ not an objective reality external to consciousness. Can Brother Zihou consider this ‘real reality’ to be true?”

"The state of meditation is mysterious and unfathomable, but it is ultimately an inner realm of consciousness."

Zhang Zai raised an eyebrow and said in a deep voice, "If we use this to deny the objective existence of all things in the world outside of our consciousness, and reduce everything to 'emptiness' and 'consciousness,' then wouldn't the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, grass, trees, and human relationships all become illusions? I absolutely cannot agree with this argument! I observe the world, and all things are vibrant, constantly arising and ceasing, and are by no means dreams or empty flowers."

"exactly!"

Lu Beigu affirmed, “Brother Zihou firmly believes that all things in the universe are objective realities. This is the most fundamental starting point of the theory of ‘qi’ and the cornerstone of Confucianism’s ‘investigation of things to extend knowledge’ and ‘participation in the creation and nurturing of things.’ Master Qisong’s questioning with ‘unprovable’ seems reasonable, but in fact, it falls into another kind of ‘consciousness-only’ presupposition—he presupposes that only ‘personal verification by consciousness’ is true knowledge, and denies the possibility that we can understand the origin of the world through sensory observation, rational speculation, or even life experience.”

Lu Beigu paused, his gaze fixed on the charcoal fire, his fingers lightly tapping the table.

"Although the existence of 'qi' is formless and without image, it is not without basis!"

"Oh? What brilliant idea do you have, my brother?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zai leaned forward abruptly, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes.

"By relying on 'elephant'".

Lu Beigu had already sorted out his logic and said, "The Book of Changes says, 'What is seen is called an image.' Although Qi is formless, its gathering and dispersing, rising and falling, floating and sinking, and interacting are constantly manifested as 'images.' For example, the wind moves in the fields, the clouds move in the sky, water vapor rises, dew condenses and frost falls. Are these not the rising and falling, floating and sinking of Qi? Spring brings forth life, summer brings growth, autumn brings harvest, and winter brings storage. The flourishing and withering of plants and trees, and the reproduction of life, are these not the images of the interaction and transformation of Yin and Yang Qi? The breathing of a person, the circulation of blood, and the expression of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness from within and without, are these not the circulation of Qi in the human body?"

Seeing Zhang Zai deep in thought, Lu Beigu spoke.

“All these phenomena are manifestations of ‘qi’ and traces of its movement. Master Qisong said that Buddhists ‘personally see’ emptiness in meditation. We Confucian scholars observe the flow of ‘qi’ in the ‘phenomena’ of heaven and earth and all things. These ‘phenomena’ are the evidence of the existence of ‘qi’ and the object of ‘investigation of things’.”

To put it simply, in modern scientific terms, it means verifying the correctness of a theory through experimental phenomena.

"elephant"

Zhang Zai did not immediately understand Lu Beigu's meaning; he frowned deeply.

Lu Beigu said straightforwardly, "I have a method that can demonstrate to Brother Zihou right before his eyes the existence, nature, and principles of 'qi,' as clearly as the lines on his palm!"

"Oh?" Zhang Zai's spirits lifted, his gaze fixed on Lu Beigu. "What ingenious method is it? Tell me quickly!"

Qi Song's "unverifiable" challenge was like a thorn in his side; he desperately needed such concrete proof.

"This method was not created by me." Lu Beigu smiled slightly and asked, "Brother Zihou, have you ever seen a Kongming lantern?"

"Kongming Lantern?"

Zhang Zai was taken aback: "You mean that lantern made of bamboo strips, covered with thin paper, with pine resin burning underneath, that can soar straight into the night sky? This thing is common, just a toy for playing with, what does it have to do with 'qi'?"

"This is it!"

Lu Beigu stated bluntly, "However, it is by no means a trivial skill. The principle it embodies is the most direct evidence of the existence, nature, and principle of 'qi'. This thing can be called the prototype of a 'hot air balloon'!"

“Hot air balloon?” Zhang Zai pondered this novel yet apt name.

"Brother Zihou, please take a look."

Lu Beigu picked up a piece of scrap paper covered with writing from the table, crumpled it into a loose ball, and placed it a short distance above the charcoal brazier.

"If this crumpled paper is placed outdoors in the cold air, with no heat source underneath, what do you think, Brother Zihou?"

“It fell to the ground naturally,” Zhang Zai replied without hesitation.

"Of course."

Lu Beigu nodded, then carefully and slowly lowered the crumpled paper, bringing it close to the scorching air emanating from the charcoal brazier.

"Brother Zihou, take another look!"

The paper ball, which should have fallen, trembled slightly as it approached the area of ​​hot air, as if it were being lifted upwards by an invisible force!

However, this "hovering" scene only lasted for a very short moment before the paper fell due to uneven heating at the edges.

Zhang Zai's pupils suddenly contracted!
This wasn't the first time he had witnessed hot air rising, but he had never considered the "effect of air" in this context.

Now, observing an object being lifted by "hot air" at such close range and with such clarity, he clearly saw the effect of that "air"!

"Brother Zihou, can you feel it?"

Lu Beigu spoke eloquently: "Is the 'heat' generated by the charcoal fire beneath that paper ball lighter, clearer, and more upward-moving than the surrounding 'cold air'? This 'lightness,' 'clarity,' and 'upward' quality is not just conjecture, but what Brother Zihou has seen with his own eyes."

"Yes! That's exactly right!"

Zhang Zai's voice carried a hint of excitement: "Pure air rises and turbid air sinks; this is the most obvious principle in the universe."

"The principle behind Kongming lanterns lies precisely in this."

Lu Beigu pressed on, explaining, “When a fire is lit under a lamp, the intense heat fills the lamp. This ‘heat’ is light and pure, and its nature is to rise, making it far lighter than the ‘cold air’ outside the lamp. Once the light and pure air is generated inside the lamp, the heavy and turbid cold air outside the lamp naturally pushes downwards and displaces the light air. This is the ‘image’ of the rising and falling, floating and sinking, and the contradictory interaction of Yin and Yang!” Then, Lu Beigu used gestures to simulate the compression and rising of “qi”.

"The downward force of the cold air is transformed into the upward force of the lamp body. This force is neither supernatural nor illusory. It is the force generated by the mutual stimulation and transformation of the cold and hot air due to their different weights. This is the 'phenomenon' generated by the contradictory movement of 'qi' itself. Its force can be felt with the naked eye, and its principle of 'cold and hot stimulating each other, light rising and turbid descending' can also be investigated."

Lu Beigu looked directly at Zhang Zai and said earnestly, "Brother Zihou, this small Kongming lantern, when it ascends into the sky, is the existence of 'qi' in the world. Its nature of 'lightness and heaviness, purity and turbidity' and its principle of 'rising, falling and sinking' are not imagination or conjecture, but are vividly displayed before people's eyes."

Lu Beigu's words were like a thunderclap from the heavens, exploding in his mind!

"Hot is light and cold is heavy; the two energies interact, rise and fall, float and sink, generating dynamics."

Zhang Zai seemed frozen in place, his gaze fixed on the brazier of charcoal, as if trying to discern the profound truths of the universe contained within it.

He muttered to himself, “If we can have this empirical evidence, then the theory that ‘the Great Void is Qi’ will be firmly established! The Great Void is not empty, but the inherent nature of Qi; Qi transforms into forms, revealing the movement of contradictions; all phenomena are the gathering and dispersing of Qi. This principle of ‘heat is light and cold is heavy’ is one of the most fundamental ‘principles’ in the universe. It is not created by the mind, but is the nature of Qi. To investigate things and gain knowledge, we must thoroughly explore this Qi and this principle in such everyday, ordinary things and in all phenomena of heaven and earth!”

But after a while, the worry between Zhang Zai's brows still could not be completely dispelled.

"However, if it is just Kongming lanterns, I'm afraid the evidence is not strong enough."

"Then let's build a manned hot air balloon to prove it!"

Kongming lanterns and hot air balloons operate on the same principle: they both utilize the fact that hot air is less dense than cold air to generate buoyancy and rise into the air.

The specific method involves burning fuel or using a heating device to expand the internal air, reducing its density and creating a density difference that generates buoyancy. When the buoyancy exceeds the object's own weight, the object will rise into the air.

Lu Beigu bluntly stated, "If people could ascend to heaven, then Qi Song's explanation of 'qi' as absurd and unfounded would be wrong. Otherwise, how could hot air balloons rise? Isn't it due to the 'light and hot qi' generated within and the 'heavy and cold qi' pressing down on the outside? It's due to the interaction of these two qi, the power of their contradictory transformation! This 'qi,' this 'power,' this 'principle,' fills the heavens and earth, governs the sun and moon, and gives birth to all things. How can 'consciousness-only' and 'emptiness of nature' fully explain it?"

"The rise of this lamp is the simplest and most powerful proof of the 'real nature of Qi,' because it proves that there is indeed a 'Qi' in the world that is extremely real and dynamic, perceptible and knowable, and operates ceaselessly according to its own principles."

"—This energy is the foundation of the universe and the basis of all things!"

Zhang Zai was stunned upon hearing this.

"Can a person ride the air to heaven?"

"Of course, as long as Brother Zihou can find a reliable craftsman to make a roped hot air balloon that can carry people up to the height of a three-story building, it won't be a difficult task."

Lu Beigu was quite confident about this experiment, which was at the junior high school physics level.

Seeing Lu Beigu's confidence, Zhang Zai felt much more at ease. He grabbed Lu Beigu's arm and said sincerely.

"If this is truly the case, then the reality of Qi, its nature and its principles, are clearly evident! This is the model of 'investigating things' and the smooth path to 'extending knowledge.' Our Confucian school should explore the great principles of the universe and human life by following this path of 'image,' 'feeling,' 'principle,' and 'proof,' taking each step steadily and relentlessly pursuing the truth. Qi Song's questions can now be put to rest!"

"As for skilled craftsmen, I do know one. Although he's not a craftsman, his craftsmanship is definitely more exquisite than any craftsman's!"

"Who?" Lu Beigu asked curiously.

Shen Kuo, a native of Qiantang.

Zhang Zai explained: "This man is the son of Shen Zhou, the prefect of Mingzhou. Shen Zhou passed away in the third year of the Huangyou era. After observing three years of mourning, he entered officialdom two years ago through his father's influence and served as the registrar of Shuyang County in Haizhou, in charge of managing the Shu River. After the water management project was completed this year, he resigned from his post and went north. Now he lives in Kaifeng and is focusing on preparing for the imperial examination. I have met him a few times."

"."

Lu Beigu never expected that the skilled craftsman Zhang Zai planned to find would be Shen Kuo, the most famous all-around genius in Song Dynasty history.

This all-around genius, who had studied mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, geography, military affairs, economics, local history, law and calendar, music, medicine, divination, archaeology and many other disciplines, was jokingly called "the Da Vinci of the Song Dynasty" in modern times, because he was the kind of person who knew everything and was proficient in everything.

Of course, his most famous work is the renowned "Dream Pool Essays".

"There's no time like the present. I'll set aside an afternoon to go find him. If we can settle this matter, I can focus on my exams."

"Good! Good!"

Zhang Zai knew, of course, that Lu Beigu's time was precious, so he nodded repeatedly, somewhat embarrassed.

"Where does Shen Kuo live?" Lu Beigu asked again.

Zhang Zai said, "It was in a private house near the Rainbow Bridge."

Lu Beigu was taken aback upon hearing this.

Rainbow Bridge?

Before he set off from Hejiang County, his sister-in-law Pei Yan told him that his older sister, Lu Nanzhi, might live near Hongqiao.

However, since finding someone in Kaifeng is like looking for a needle in a haystack, and the matter wasn't that urgent, Lu Beigu hadn't gone to look for them.

I'll take some time this afternoon to go to Hongqiao to find Shen Kuo to make hot air balloons; it might be worth a try.

(End of this chapter)