Taiping Dao at the end of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 89 Those who enter this gate! The Daoist of the *Taiping Jing*!

The Big Dipper points southeast, marking the beginning of summer. All things grow to their fullest at this time, hence the name "Beginning of Summer." The rainless spring in Yuzhou has passed, and an even drier summer rises from the land of the Han Dynasty, scorching the suffering and worried people and the withered wheat in the fields.

The sun blazed fiercely that day. Before the gates of the Xun family manor in Yingyin, the ancient locust tree, its canopy providing shelter for guests and horses, stood tall and majestic. This tree, weathered by two hundred years of the family's illustrious history, flourished even more vigorously in the late Han dynasty. At this moment, as a dozen or so visitors, all wearing yellow turbans and of varying social status, arrived, the entire manor's guards and servants sprang into action, a palpable sense of impending doom rising within them.

"Open the main gate! Welcome our distinguished guests!"

Under Zhang Chengfu's watchful gaze, with a solemn shout, the vermilion main gate of the Xun clan suddenly swung open! Dozens of Xun clan members emerged, arranged in three distinct rows. Each was impeccably dressed and dignified, their ranks clearly distinguished by seniority. Zhang Chengfu's gaze swept quickly across them, spotting Xun You, whom he had met briefly before, standing in the third row, dominated by younger members. Xun Yu and Xun Chen, on the other hand, stood in the second row, predominantly composed of middle-aged clan members.

As for the very front row, there was only one elderly man with graying hair and a long beard. He was between fifty and sixty years old, thin and upright, slightly hunched, but every movement was polite, displaying the demeanor and dignity of a "man of propriety"! When his deep old eyes swept over the dozens of Taiping disciples, regardless of rank or status, dressed simply and wearing only yellow turbans, his brows furrowed slightly. Soon, he saw Zhang Jiao, the Great Teacher of Goodness, holding a nine-section bamboo staff, wearing a yellow turban, and sporting a short beard, surrounded by the crowd.

"Could it be Zhang Jun, the leader of the Taiping Rebellion? Xun Ciming of Yingchuan has been waiting for you for a long time!"

"I am Zhang Jiao, a disciple of the Way of Peace! I have long admired the name of Master Xun. To meet you today is truly a divine blessing!"

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao stepped forward three paces, emerging from the crowd to bow to Xun Shuang. He clasped his hands together in front of his chest, offering a slight bow—a gesture of respect known as the Daoist "Primordial Unity of Qi." Behind him, Zhang Chengfu watched with some surprise. Before the assembled Yellow Turban disciples and Xun family members, his teacher was performing a genuine ancient Daoist ritual. This was "preserving one's Qi to worship the Dao," not a mere bow or kneeling; its meaning was that "in the Dao, there is no hierarchy; the ceremony is weighty, and the heart is reverent."

"When we see someone virtuous, we should think of emulating them. We have heard that Lord Zhang taught and educated the people of Qi, starting from the marshes and fields, which is also the way of benevolence. Although we hold different views, we share the same path and strive for benevolence and righteousness for the world!"

The two elders appeared polite and respectful to each other, but the clash of their respective doctrines began the moment they met. The long-bearded elder, Xun Shuang, stepped forward a few paces, stood before Zhang Jiao, and returned the greeting with a solemn bow. Then, after performing the full Confucian rituals of bowing and yielding three times, he asked with a dignified expression and a voice as smooth as flowing water.

“Mr. Zhang, I have opened the main gate wide to welcome you. But before you enter, I must ask you a question! I wonder whether the one passing through this main gate is a successor of the Jing Shi Yi (京氏易) or the head of the Taiping Jing (太平经) sect?”

"Hmm? Master Xun, who exactly can pass through this wide-open central gate of the Xun family? Can the successors of the Jing Shi Yi pass through, or the Daoists of the Taiping Jing pass through?"

Zhang Jiao smiled and asked in return. Xun Shuang raised an eyebrow, stood in front of the main gate to block the way, and answered seriously.

"Now that the central gate is open, the space behind it for discussion is also ready, all prepared for you. The successor of the Jing Family Yi has a shared desire to learn from and align with my Fei Family Yi. He may naturally pass through this gate to discuss classics and scholarship with me, and drink wine to our hearts' content!"

"Oh? According to Master Xun, those who follow the Jing family's interpretation of the *Yi Jing* can pass through, but those who follow the *Taiping Jing* cannot?"

Upon hearing this, Xun Shuang looked at Zhang Jiao intently for a while, lowered his eyes, and replied solemnly.

"Taoists who study the Taiping Jing may also pass through this gate. However, those who enter this gate will not discuss scriptures with me, nor will they be offered water or wine!"

"Haha! Why is Lord Xun so stingy with a cup of water and wine!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jiao laughed loudly and replied calmly.

"The *Jing Shi Yi* was lost from the imperial court and spread to the countryside, where it has long been integrated with my *Taiping Jing*. My *Taiping Jing* has 170 volumes, of which 20 volumes contain divination of celestial phenomena and prayers to gods and spirits, which were derived from the *Jing Shi Yi*! Therefore, those who enter this gate today are both inheritors of the *Jing Shi Yi* and Daoists of the *Taiping Jing*!"

Upon hearing this answer, the old scholar Xun Shuang first nodded, then shook his head. He looked at the old Taoist priest in front of him and said solemnly.

"There is a sequence in seeking the Dao, and there is a ruler and his subjects in Heaven and Earth! The 170 volumes of the Taiping Jing are integrated with the 20 volumes of the Jing Shi Yi. So who is the master and who is the assistant? Did the Taiping Jing integrate the Jing Shi Yi, or did the Jing Shi Yi integrate the Taiping Jing?"

The old Taoist priest Zhang Jiao raised an eyebrow, already knowing the old scholar's attitude. He lowered his eyes, wiped the smile off his face, and said calmly.

"Naturally, the *Taiping Jing* incorporates the *Jing Shi Yi*!" "Good! That's clear enough!"

Xun Shuang nodded emphatically, performed the hand-holding ceremony, led Zhang Jiao through the vermilion main gate, and proclaimed in an aged voice.

"Those who enter this gate are the Daoists of the *Taiping Jing*!"

"Those who enter this gate are the Daoists of the *Taiping Jing*!"

Upon hearing the announcement, the Xun family members echoed it in unison, their loud shouts resounding throughout the entire manor. Soon, servants carried the previously prepared wine, snacks, pastries, and dried meat, openly removing them from the passageway behind the main hall. When Zhang Chengfu followed Zhang Jiao to the pavilion where the discussion was to take place, the entire pavilion was empty. The mats that had been laid out long ago were devoid of even a jar of water, let alone any "wine" or "banquet."

"Mr. Zhang, please have a seat!"

Looking at the empty seats, the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao smiled and, with a dozen or so disciples who were merely "filling the numbers," sat on the left side of the table. The Great Confucian scholar Xun Shuang, with a dozen or so talented members of his clan, including Xun Yu, Xun Chen, and Xun You, sat on the right side. The two sides sat facing each other, clearly separated. The Yellow Turban disciples of the Way of Peace and the gentry of the aristocratic families remained silent, merely exchanging glances at each other, observing their different attire and appearances. At this moment, though they were all human, it seemed as if an insurmountable, inherently different world separated them.

"Mr. Zhang is a guest. Where would you like to begin?"

"Since we've come here for the sake of the I Ching, let's naturally start with the I Ching!"

Upon hearing the old Taoist's reply, the young Xun Yu frowned. Could it be that his uncle's "discussion" with the other side today would not only involve the *I Ching*, but would extend to much more, perhaps even touching upon the imperial court? His uncle was under house arrest; if some of his words were to be relayed by this Taoist, what would happen?
The great Confucian scholar Xun Shuang remained calm, as he had anticipated this. He simply nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and then spoke.

"Zheng Gong once interpreted the Book of Changes. The so-called Way of Heaven is 'to receive the mandate of Heaven and practice benevolent governance.' The sage attains the Way and establishes the king, and the king acts on behalf of Heaven to govern the people. The Appended Remarks says, 'Heaven is high and Earth is low, thus Qian and Kun are established.' Qian represents Heaven and the ruler, while Kun represents Earth and the minister. In the six lines of the Kun hexagram, Qian represents the ruler and Kun represents the minister. To serve the king is to follow the distinction between ruler and minister, Heaven and Earth, and the practice of benevolent governance under the mandate of Heaven. This is the Way of Heaven in the Book of Changes, Heaven and Earth, Qian and Kun!"

"Oh? So, in Xunzi's view, the Way of Heaven in the Book of Changes is 'rule by virtue'? In order to practice rule by virtue, there are rulers and ministers. The distinction between ruler and ministers is clear, just like the order of Heaven and Earth?"

"Indeed! The sages established the system, which was ordained by Heaven. Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang, constitute the fundamental principles governing the relationship between ruler and subject!"

"But I cannot agree."

"Does Zhang Jun perhaps have another solution?"

"some."

"I would like to hear it."

"The Way of Heaven is 'natural and inactive.' Heaven follows its way, without acting or doing anything, yet all things are transformed. The sage governs without governing, and transforms by himself. Qian and Kun are the Taiji, naturally generating and transforming. The one who governs follows the climate, distributes the five grains, and does not use punishments or laws to coerce people."

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao began with a smile, seemingly reciting the old theory of "governing by non-action" from the Former Han Dynasty. But after glancing briefly at Zhang Chengfu beside him, he continued, offering a fresh perspective that no one had dared to conceive of before, a perspective that transcended the established tradition!

"Heaven and earth represent the natural order of the universe, while ruler and subject represent the hierarchy among humankind. However, there is no fixed order between heaven and earth and between ruler and subject. Heaven's way is inaction, so there is no need to choose a sage ruler to govern, and the people can govern themselves! When all people govern together, their hearts resonate with Heaven. Natural governance is also possible!"

"If nature does not intervene, the people can govern themselves; there is no need for a sage ruler to set an example!"

Upon hearing this statement, the usually composed scholar Xun Shuang's expression suddenly changed!

(End of this chapter)