Heavenly gifted sage

Author: Bao Pengshan / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Bao Pengshan's "History of Thought" series covers three eras of China, each compiled into a volume: "Heavenly Transcendent Sages" on the pre-Qin philosophers, "Heroes in the Cage" on the Qin and Han figures, and "Life in the Desolate Land" on the medieval literati. Describing the thoughts, personalities, destinies of ancient Chinese literati and their relationship with the vast system is the main thread throughout his writing. The purpose is to understand our cultural tradition and the significant achievements it has fostered. This book is the pre-Qin philosophers volume. Bao Pengshan, affectionately known as "Baozi" by friends, is unrestrained in his writing, passionate, humorous, and tender-hearted. In the 1990s, he started the column "Rereading the Sages" in Jia Pingwa's "Beautiful Writings," which ran for three years and brought him widespread acclaim. His works have been included in the national high school Chinese textbooks. Baozi's academic essays can be considered the pinnacle of a new generation of scholars' prose, following Ji Xianlin and Yu Qiujiu, reflecting the individuality, tastes, and critical spirit of contemporary Chinese intellectuals. His writing is truly enjoyable—such engaging prose is rare today. Now, we have compiled his works over the years into three volumes under the series "A History of Thoughtful Understanding," dedicated to the readers. In the glow of the setting sun, he casts a distant figure, abandoning us as if we were discarded shoes. He shows no trace of reluctance, leaving us generations of shame and self-reproach. Yes, Laozi's departure beyond the pass is a profoundly significant event, indicating that we are no longer worthy of philosophical guidance; and in our own intoxication and disorientation with the material world, we shamefully abandon philosophy. A supreme philosopher, disdainful of associating with his compatriots and even unwilling to be buried in his homeland, does not this deeply wound the confidence and self-esteem of his fellow countrymen? When I wrote this article, I genuinely felt an indescribable sense of shame. What happened to my ancestors? Have they truly declined to an irreparable point? Are they truly unworthy of such a sage to guide them? Laozi's whereabouts can be described as "divine and ghostly." It fills us with awe. Some say he is like a divine dragon, appearing and vanishing without a trace, half-hidden in the clouds—yet, is he still there today? However, even if he is a fleeting bird passing through our time, he has left traces in the snow and mud, leaving us with compassion and mercy. Sima Qian does not specify his basis for claiming that Laozi was from Lixian, Quxian County, in Chu. Lixian originally belonged to Chen, which was later conquered by Chu, thus becoming part of Chu as well. At that time, the customs and learning in the south and north had already diverged significantly. Chu proudly stood alongside the Confucian tradition of Qi and Lu and the Legalist tradition of the Three Jin states, forming a tripartite balance. Laozi's works have names, unlike the other pre-Qin texts, which are generally named after the author's surname followed by "zi." His work is titled "The Dao De Jing," or alternatively, "The De Jing" and "The Dao Jing," depending on whether the "De Jing" or "Dao Jing" came first. What is "De"? It refers to the essence or special attributes that define something—put simply, the intrinsic and unique qualities of a thing. What is "Dao"? It refers to the laws governing the operation of all things. Thus, Laozi's focus was on relatively pure philosophical questions, the abstraction of objective phenomena. He was also a scholar deeply versed in history. Sima Qian describes him as the "keeper of the archives of the Zhou dynasty," meaning the head of the government archives. The documents preserved in the archives of that time were nothing more than historical records kept by officials. He spent his days locked in a cold room reading these materials—no wonder he "turned white at the mere sight of a single scroll." It's no surprise he was "born with white hair." Born after so many existing histories, he was like an illegitimate child of a gloomy era. Yes, for some, the collective experiences and pains of humanity are no more than their personal emotional encounters—Laozi was one such extraordinary individual. Facing the "river of historical blood" where "young men fought on the battlefield, bows drew, and blood flowed across the plains," how could he not transform from a handsome youth into a weathered "Laozi," embedding in the deep and shallow wrinkles on his forehead wisdom intertwined with conspiracy, coldness, and even cruelty? Ban Gu said that the Daoist school originated from the keepers of archives, and perhaps he spoke from personal experience. Having witnessed too much evil, one either becomes corrupt and heartless, or undergoes a transformation, becoming a compassionate and benevolent soul. Looking over Laozi's surviving works, it seems he possessed both qualities, like the chaotic universe before the separation of yin and yang. However, I believe that by the time Laozi, weathered and compassionate, left the archives, he had already pierced through the thick walls of life. Under the sun, he squinted at the world, finding it chaotic and unjust, just like a messy history. His heart remained calm. He understood all the tricks, and all the characters seemed familiar to him. The Zhou dynasty's grandeur was fading, mountains and rivers were crumbling, the nine provinces were splitting apart, and even the small archives faced a catastrophe—"Gold and jade fill the halls, yet nothing can be guarded." The thick classics could neither be guarded nor preserved. He looked up at the evening clouds in the west, his mind set on departure. Yes, it was time to go. However, we are still fortunate. According to Sima Qian's records and later developments in the study of immortals, when Laozi rode a green ox to leave the pass, he was stopped by Yin Xi, the gatekeeper. Yin Xi said to Laozi, "You are about to withdraw into seclusion. Please write a book for us"—before abandoning us, could you spare some effort to leave us your thoughts? P04