I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 402 Birth
As Liu Miao said, now that the framework has been built, the rest is to fill the skeleton with flesh and blood.

Besides the various schools of thought during the Hundred Schools of Thought period, the doctrines of Huan Tan and Wang Chong of the Later Han Dynasty were naturally absorbed into the Daoist school.

"Nothing is clearer than effectiveness, and nothing is more definitive than evidence."

(Judging things requires actual results, and proving a point requires evidence.)
Its approach is completely consistent with the Taoist methodology that Liu Miao has modified.

This precisely demonstrates that the establishment of Neo-Taoism was not something created out of thin air, nor was it a castle in the air.

Mozi, Lu Ban, Xu Xing, Xunzi, Zhang Cang...

To inherit the lost learning of the sages of the past.

Wang Jing, Du Shi, Zhang Heng, Yang Xiong, Huan Tan, Wang Chong, Zhuge Liang...

May peace reign in this world!
The new Taoism is not about going it alone.

On the contrary, after Zhang Lu sorted it out, he found that its lineage and inheritance were incredibly clear!
While Zhang Lu was trying to fill in this framework, Liu Miao was also trying to do something else.

The birth of a prominent field of study is often accompanied by some earth-shattering event.

If it is a time of communication between Heaven and man, then things will be much easier.

They can simply create some auspicious omens or strange phenomena to prove it.

However, if those things were done, it would contradict the current Taoist doctrine and essence of "pursuing the One."

Fortunately, Liu Miao had a solution!

The source of this method is actually thanks to the interaction between heaven and man.

Thanks to the ancient reverence and study of the heavens, the records of astronomy in the Han Dynasty are undoubtedly the most comprehensive.

When Liu Biao was in Jingzhou, in addition to eliminating superfluous words and enabling scholars to quickly understand the classics, he also left behind another remarkable legacy: the revision of the Jingzhou Astrological Divination.

One clear record states that when observing Polaris from the four prefectures of Nanyang, Nanjun, Changsha, and Lingling in Jingzhou from south to north, an angle appeared between Polaris and the stars.

Because it was difficult to explain and it did not conform to conventional understanding, the result of this observation was considered an error in the "Jingzhou Astrology".

However, Liu Miao simply erased this conclusion.

The North Star, which is often thought to be unchanging, does indeed change.

Jingzhou, stretching from Nanyang in the north to Lingling in the south, has a long and narrow geography that makes it easier to observe the changes of Polaris.

The fact that the North Star appears at an angle when observed from different locations illustrates that the earth beneath our feet is actually a circle.

Zhang Heng had actually proposed the theory of the celestial sphere decades ago.

Furthermore, Zhang Heng had already correctly explained the principle behind lunar eclipses and proposed a theory of the motion of the five planets, enabling him to measure the apparent diameters of the sun and moon...

However, there is no suitable model that can accommodate this data.

While the observed deviation in the angle of Polaris is still insufficient to complete the model of celestial motion, it at least verifies one of Zhang Heng's statements—

The earth is round!

This is not imagination or fabrication, but a result obtained through actual measurement.

This is the "one" that Liu Miao had previously mentioned to Zhang Lu.

This "one" cannot be changed according to anyone's will. If there are any doubters, then they should investigate for themselves.

And no matter who surveys it, this "one" will never change.

Perhaps in the future, some people will argue that the earth is not round, or even question why, if the earth is round, people can stand firmly on the ground in various places...

But it's okay.

The more debates and explorations like this, the better!
Isn't this precisely the significance of the existence of Neo-Taoism today?
The standard has been set, the "one" has been determined, and the rest is entirely up to each individual to rely on their own abilities to observe, deduce, research, and then persuade others.

Therefore, Liu Miao decided to give a major boost to the scholars of the late Han Dynasty, who were now spiritually adrift after the collapse of the "interaction between Heaven and Man" doctrine!
"Gongqi, are you ready?"

Over several days, Zhang Lu had completed the reform of Taoism’s objects, doctrines, rituals, organization, and experience, based on his experience in improving the Five Pecks of Rice sect.

The object, naturally, is the Tao, which is one.

The doctrine is to discover, verify, and apply the Tao through the Three Tables method.

The changes in rituals, organization, and experience remain largely the same.

Although Taoism is now visibly impoverished and dilapidated, the presence of Emperor Liu Miao as its patron ensures its future flourishing.

If problems really arise in the future, Liu Miao can simply be shameless and dedicate himself to Taoism, then have his ministers redeem him, thus enhancing the prestige of Taoism...

However, Liu Miao thought about the future fascination with Taoism among the workshop owners of the Han Dynasty, and felt that he should not be forced to do something that even he himself found somewhat shameful.

Everything is ready.

Just as the Han Dynasty that Liu Miao founded today is still called the Han Dynasty, but its structure is completely different from that of the Later Han Dynasty; similarly, although Taoism is still called Taoism today, if Laozi, Zhuangzi, Zhang Daoling and other people were resurrected, they would all be completely blind!

But Taoism is not entirely unfamiliar now.

From the Book of Changes to the Lunheng.

From the Yellow Emperor and Shennong in the past, to Zhang Heng and Zhuge Liang in the future.

These things are all hidden inside.

Although the concept was proposed by Liu Miaoxin and the content was fabricated by Zhang Luxin, every word and every story in it was written by the ancient sages and common people of China!

And now, this most familiar stranger has finally reached the point where he can greet everyone.

Although it looks simple and withered, it has a head, a torso, limbs, and thoughts, and most importantly... it has a bright future!
Even if it's ugly now, Liu Miao still cherishes it! Just like some parents who want to show off their babies, he can't wait to let it make an appearance!
"In the secular world, the influence of Confucianism and classical studies is too great, and I cannot sway them in a short time."

Liu Miao always adhered to one principle—

Any means are acceptable as long as the goal can be achieved.

Even Liu Miao, in a direct confrontation, lacked the confidence to defeat the Confucian classics of the Han Dynasty, which had been accumulated over three hundred years.

Since that's the case, let's take a roundabout approach and push out the Taoists who are obedient but unwilling to accept reform!
In this way, Taoism can temporarily hide under the guise of a "sect" and develop quietly until one day it grows to the point where it can shake the Confucian classics!
The second year of Zhangwu.

The day of Jiazi in the fifth month.

Zhang Lu preached in Chengdu for three days, which pleased the emperor, who treated him as an honored guest!
Zhang Lu presented a letter to the emperor, citing his observations of the stars as evidence, and concluded that the sky was not flat and the earth was square, but rather that "the heavens are like a chicken egg, and the celestial bodies are round like bullets."

The emperor saw this and agreed!
At this very moment, at the very moment the new Taoism was born, the heavens and earth underwent an unprecedented and tremendous change!
(End of this chapter)