Taiping Dao at the end of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 69: Confucianism and Taoism share the same origin; let's go to the Xun family of Yingchuan to debate the classics?
Before the statue of Fuxi, a broken brazier lay, its ashes accumulated over time. On the muddy ground of the shrine, several offering coins surrounded a clay-drawn hexagram. The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao stood before this hexagram, his brow gradually furrowing.

"The hexagram 'Kun' (困) is formed by Kan (坎) below and Dui (兑) above. A lake without water signifies distress. A wise man, risking his life to achieve his goals, is in this situation. A very ominous sign."

"The first line changes to the sixth. The buttocks are trapped by a tree stump; one enters a secluded valley and is not seen for three years. The image says: Entering a secluded valley, the seclusion is unclear. The changing line is also ominous. Not seen for three years in the secluded valley?"

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao remained silent. He had come with two reasons: first, to see his old friend; and second, to ask the old Taoist priest at the Fuxi Temple to cast a divination to inquire about the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the uprising next year. However, judging from the state of the temple, his old friend had likely passed away, leaving behind only a fragmented divination, the date of which was unknown.

"."

The Book of Changes is extremely profound, and Zhang Chengfu knew he couldn't understand it after just one glance at the hexagram. He led the two to search behind the temple, and finally found a skeleton dressed in a hempen robe in a leaky thatched hut. The skeleton lay on a straw bed, completely naked, its age and cause of death unknown. It also had nothing of value, except for a cracked tortoise shell clutched in its arms and seven or eight extremely thick bamboo scrolls.

"Yi Jing Shi? There are divination inscriptions on the tortoise shell? They're all in ancient seal script, is it large seal script or small seal script?"

Zhang Chengfu carefully picked up the bamboo slips and looked at the small characters on them, vaguely recognizing "Yi" and "Jing Shi". Then, he took off the tortoise shell and looked at it for a while. It was all in ancient seal script, and he only recognized "Bei" and "Jiazi". This was when his lack of knowledge came into play. He glanced at Gao Daonu, who looked even more bewildered, and could only say...

"Let's go! Go and invite the teacher!"

A moment later, Zhang Jiao, the Great Teacher of Virtue, arrived barefoot, taking the few offering coins in his hand and placing them in a special offering bowl, presumably taken from the temple. He lowered his head, silently gazing at the withered bones on the straw bed, looking at the last remains left by his deceased friend. After a long while, he sighed softly.

"After your death, the Jing family's study of Yi Jing will likely lose its lineage and be extinct!"

"Huh? Teacher, isn't this old Taoist priest a Taoist? How did he turn into a Confucian scholar who inherits the 'I Ching'? The Jing School of I Ching?"

Zhang Chengfu was bewildered. The lineages of these classic texts were far too ancient and complex. Even if they were the very essence of the Han Dynasty's literary tradition, the deeply buried threads of Confucianism and Taoism, they remained hidden beneath the magnificent and diverse heroes of the late Han Dynasty, unnoticed by later generations. Only the Confucian and Taoist masters of this era could unravel these threads one by one.

"Inheritance and responsibility: Confucianism and Taoism both originated from ancient shamanism, though their interpretations and emphases differ, with no fundamental difference in their origins. Our ancestors, lacking written language, observed the stars and qi, consulted the heavens and consulted the tortoise shells, thus creating hexagrams, talismans, incantations, and spells. The sages, following this, drew the hexagrams to form the *I Ching* and established rites as the *Zhou Guan*. Thus, shamanism came first, and rites and laws followed, from which Confucianism and Taoism both emerged. Therefore, the Taoists here, inheriting the study of the *I Ching*, were initially Confucian scholars, later turning to Huang-Lao thought—merely a matter of consideration and choice, a change of heart. Their lineage has never changed; it is these few volumes of the *Jing Shi Yi Jing*. Our lineage is the same, it is this *Taiping Qingling Jing*. This is the common origin of Confucianism and Taoism."

The great teacher Zhang Jiao stroked his short beard and delivered his discourse on the common origin of Confucianism and Taoism. Then, he pondered for a long time before continuing.

"Among the various schools of thought on the *I Ching* that have been passed down and are known to the public since the Former Han Dynasty, there are none other than the *Jing Shi Yi*, the *Liang Qiu Shi Yi*, and the *Fei Shi Yi*. The *Jing Shi Yi* originated with the great Confucian scholar Jing Fang of the Former Han Dynasty, who studied under the great Confucian scholar Jiao Yanshou and passed it on to three disciples. This is the 'Modern Text *I Ching* school,' which, like other 'Modern Text Classics,' takes the interaction between Heaven and Man as its core and excels in divination and Yin-Yang theory. It interprets the hexagrams based on celestial phenomena and disasters, and deduces human affairs from them. It can criticize the emperor in the court and predict the harvest in the countryside."

"If we look at my *Taiping Jing* from the perspective of ancient and modern times, then we are actually 'modern text Confucianism'. We observe the stars and perform divination, which is connected with prophecies and apocryphal texts. We discuss how the will of Heaven influences the government and how the will of the people influences the common people. The many branches of 'modern text Confucianism' are not only satisfied with the discussions of the sages, but also, based on the theory of 'Heaven and Man,' we occupy a position above the authority of the emperor. We have much more to do!"

"The Liangqiu Yi was transmitted from Liangqiu He of the Former Han Dynasty, which originated from the lineage of Tian He and is also a 'New Text School of Confucianism'. This school is also good at divination and was once a prominent school of thought. However, since the present dynasty, the Fei Yi has risen and gradually spread throughout the country. This lineage is the 'Old Text School of Confucianism'. This 'Old Text School of Confucianism' focuses more on understanding the original meaning of the classics, explaining the meaning, rules and systems between words and sentences, and separates itself from apocryphal texts and celestial phenomena. It also no longer criticizes the emperor based on celestial phenomena."

At this point, the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao paused, his expression solemn, and looked at his young disciple Zhang Chengfu, speaking earnestly.

"This struggle for orthodoxy between the 'New Text School' and the 'Old Text School' is a life-or-death struggle for the Confucian and Daoist literary tradition! The key figures in this struggle are the deceased great Confucian scholar Ma Rong and the living great Confucian scholar Zheng Xuan. Zheng Xuan was actually well-versed in both the Old Text School and the New Text School, as well as apocryphal texts. But the path he ultimately took was to 'encompass all classics, gather all schools of thought, delete redundancies and falsehoods, and correct omissions,' thereby 'rectifying the source and establishing a standard and correct interpretation of the Old Text School!'"

"Zheng Xuan annotated the *Fei Shi Yi*, which led to the rise of the *Fei Shi Yi* and the decline of the *Jing Shi Yi*. He used the Old Text School of Confucianism to annotate the *Zhou Li*, *Yi Li*, and *Li Ji*, replacing the New Text School with the *Three Rites*. Ultimately, the *Zuo Zhuan* of the Old Text School prevailed over the *Gongyang Zhuan* and *Guliang Zhuan* of the New Text School, thanks to the debates of the great Confucian scholar Fu Qian and the strenuous assistance of Zheng Xuan!"

"For all the great Confucian scholars in the world, this struggle for the lineage of classics and doctrines is related to the continuation of their school, and it is the most dangerous thing ever! The Guliang Commentary declined early, and there were no outstanding successors in the court. Now, the Gongyang Commentary, a prominent school of thought, was led by the renowned scholar He Xiu, who was to pass on his teachings and carry on the legacy. However, the great scholar Fu Qian and Zheng Xuan collaborated to refute the Gongyang Commentary, submitting sixty articles over more than ten years, which completely denigrated the Gongyang Commentary. Just last year, the great scholar He Xiu died in despair, and the Zuo Commentary, the only prominent school of thought in the Spring and Autumn period, will become the highest standard for the court to select officials!"

"For example, the reason why Doctor Lu Zhi became famous and renowned was because he inherited the ancient text classics 'Three Rites' and 'Book of Documents' from his teacher Ma Rong. And he taught his students with these classics, and the lineage he passed down was naturally also from the ancient text classics!"

"Ah? Dr. Lu Zhi? From the classical Chinese school?"

Hearing such a familiar name, Zhang Chengfu was startled. He naturally knew this renowned general, who was like a "benevolent elder," but he never imagined that this general, who had fought against the Yellow Turban Rebellion and relentlessly pursued his teacher, was also a great Confucian scholar who inherited the "ancient" lineage of Taoism! However, the *Taiping Qingling Jing*, which his Taiping Dao inherited, was a "modern" text centered on apocryphal texts, celestial phenomena, divination, and the relationship between Heaven and Man! This kind of conflict between literary traditions and lineages might be spared for the lower-ranking soldiers, but for disciples like them who inherited the lineage, it would inevitably be a fight to the death!
Thinking of this, Zhang Chengfu remained silent, then gripped the fine iron dagger at his waist. A bitter smile appeared on his face; this concerned the lineage of the Dao, and he feared the other party would react in the same way.

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao glanced at Zhang Chengfu, somewhat puzzled by the sudden murderous aura emanating from his disciple. After recounting the ideology of the Han Dynasty and the struggle for interpretive power, he stroked his short beard and returned to the withered bones of his old friend before him, and to the transmission of the Book of Changes.

"The Fei School of Yi originated with Fei Zhi of the Former Han Dynasty and was originally a secluded folk school. After the establishment of this dynasty, Chen Yuan and Zheng Zhong both transmitted the Fei School of Yi. Later, Ma Rong also transmitted it, and Rong taught it to Zheng Xuan, who wrote the Commentary on the Yi. From then on, it became widely popular throughout the world. After the Fei School of Yi, which is based on the ancient text, flourished, the Jing School of Yi, which is based on the modern text, declined drastically and almost lost its lineage. As the lineage and traditions of the two schools competed, my old friend, after studying the Jing School of Yi, had no chance of becoming an official in the court, so he became a Taoist priest."

"In fact, many of the declining schools of the New Text School, having retreated into seclusion among the common people, have indeed entered the Daoist path. These New Text School practitioners were skilled in divination and celestial observation, using these phenomena to discuss human nature, thus integrating their teachings with Daoist scriptures. In the end, Confucianism and Daoism share the same origin! And my old friend, in his lifetime, longed to learn Daoist scriptures from me. All he sought was to have another debate with the successor of the Fei School of Yijing (Book of Changes) of the Old Text School! Now that he has passed away and his Dao has vanished, he leaves behind this unfinished regret."

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao lowered his eyes and shook his head. Then, he pondered silently for a long time, and thinking of the day when his Dao would perish, he sighed softly.

“Chengfu, do you know that besides Zheng Xuan, the great Confucian scholar who was imprisoned in Beihai, there was actually another powerful successor to the *Fei Shi Yi*? Although he was imprisoned, he was in Yingchuan, the place we are going to on this trip.” “Ah? Teacher, the great Confucian scholar of the *Yi* in Yingchuan? Who is he?”

"Xun Shuang, Xun Ciming."

"The Xun family of Yingchuan?! I think I've heard of them. They're said to have many talented people, and two of their descendants are capable of assisting a king!"

"Hmm? 'Talent fit for a king's advisor,' what a boastful tone. Chengfu, where did you hear that from? I have no idea. The Xun family of Yingchuan is indeed full of talented people and a family of scholars of classical studies. This generation has the reputation of 'The Eight Dragons of the Xun Family.' However, only Xun Shuang (Xun Ciming) and Xun Fu (Xun Youci) are still alive at present. And among the 'Eight Dragons of the Xun Family, Ciming is unparalleled,' this Xun Ciming is the most accomplished and renowned scholar of classical studies among the eight dragons! He inherited the lineage of the *Fei Shi Yi* and also wrote the *Yi Zhuan*, making him a worthy opponent of my old friend!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng looked bewildered, having no recollection of Xun Ciming. Gao Daonu, needless to say, had absolutely no idea what was being discussed.

Seeing the reactions of his two disciples, the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao was speechless, then sighed. Some of his disciples were limited by their backgrounds, some by their talents, and some by the short time they had spent studying; none of them could fully inherit his "scholarship." Let alone debate with the great Confucian scholars from aristocratic families who had devoted years to the study of the classics.

In the Way of Peace, besides him, there is probably no one else who can debate scriptures in this way. Even his two brothers are not of such broad learning and knowledge. And given his physical condition and the situation of the uprising next year, this trip may be his last and only chance.

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao's expression shifted, and after a long while, he seemed to have finally made up his mind about something that was not originally planned.

"I have been thinking it over and over. If I am able to meet Xun Ciming on this trip to Yingchuan, I must do my best to discuss the mysteries of the classics with him, and to debate the classics on behalf of my old friend and the 'Modern Text School'!"

"Teacher, are you going to debate the classics with the Xun family of Yingchuan? Is there anything I need to prepare or do?"

Hearing about such a high-level "literary affair," Zhang Chengfu was eager to try, and couldn't help but tighten his grip on the hilt of his sword. As for Gao Daonu, he was fiddling with the tortoise shell, clearly more interested in the cracks and ancient inscriptions on it. The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao glanced sideways at his two "unlearned" disciples, shook his head, and calmly said...

"My Taiping Jing consists of more than 160 volumes and also has the 'Yi Zhuan' lineage, which is closely related to the Jing family's Yi. The profound meaning of this classic requires a lifetime of study and research for more than ten or twenty years. Not to mention its breadth, it also requires the experience of life to comprehend!"

"You are all too young and haven't studied many scriptures. When the time comes, you will simply carry the ritual implements and scriptures for me, and face off against the disciples of the Xun family. I don't expect you to do anything else."

"Chengfu, keep these volumes of the *Jing Shi Yi* safe and pack them in your bag. My old friend has no successor, so this branch of *Yi* studies will be incorporated into my Taiping Dao, waiting for future generations to organize and carry it forward! And you can keep the sacrificial bowls and offerings for this lineage as well. Dao Nu is not interested in the *Yi*. If you want to learn, I can talk to you about it on the way, at least teaching you a skill in Zhouyi divination. However, the *Yi* studies are the most profound, and those with the talent and aptitude for it are very few. Your Dao is probably not within it; learning a little divination is enough."

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao gave a few gentle instructions, then looked at Gao Daonu. Only then did he notice the tortoise shell used for divination, and his eyebrows immediately rose.

"Hmm? Divination using a burnt tortoise shell? And it's even engraved with ancient seal script? Dao Nu, where did you get this?"

"Ah! Master, it was obtained from the bones of this Taoist priest! Before he died, he seemed to be tightly holding this tortoise shell against his heart! But the characters on it are too difficult for me to recognize."

"Let me see it!"

"promise!"

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao took the tortoise shell, its surface riddled with cracks, and frowned again. Generally, auspicious omens in tortoise shell divination can be characterized by "clear, straight cracks," "symmetrical cracks," "continuous cracks," or "circling cracks." Simply put, the more "beautiful" the cracks appear after burning, the more "auspicious" it is! But as it is now, the cracks are too chaotic and ugly, making it inexplicable and undoubtedly an "ominous sign"!
"Divining the heavens and seeking guidance for the future? Hmm, and there's a will engraved on the back? What is this? What is this!"

The Great Teacher's expression changed drastically, much to Zhang Chengfu's surprise. He rarely saw his teacher lose control of his emotions like this, and couldn't help but ask.

"Teacher, what last words are engraved on the back of this tortoise shell?"

"."

This time, the Great Teacher remained silent for a long time before running his finger along the short seal script and softly reciting it.

"In the north, a calamity of slaughter begins, lasting for six Jiazi. At the extreme of Yin, the earth hides the root of death, resulting in countless deaths."

"This northern position is the extreme of Yin, the calamity of the six Jiazi cycle, but where exactly does it lie?"

"Perhaps my old friend's dying divination was wrong!"

(End of this chapter)