Chronology of Academic Activities in the Ming Dynasty Knowledge Circle: 1522-1602

Author: Wu Zhen
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not available
Features: In the year Dinghai, the master was thirty-seven years old and was promoted to the position of Chief Guest Officer in Nanjing. (Page 1426) The "Collected Works of Master Lü Jingye" Volume 16, "Preface to the Separation of Master Dongkuo Zou," records: "For three years, I have been in Nanjing with Master Dongkuo Zou. Due to the distance between our residences, we could not meet often. However, whenever we met, we would discuss learning, and whenever we discussed, we would each insist on our own views, with about twelve or thirteen points of disagreement. At our first meeting at my residence, Dongkuo said, 'Action is knowledge. Just as if you do not reach the top of a tower, you cannot see the things on it.' I replied, 'If you do not see the stairs, how can you take steps to reach the top?' Dongkuo did not agree with this either. Later, while walking to the Imperial Academy in the snow, after passing the north of Chang'an Street, Dongkuo said, 'How can one know the Imperial Academy without action?' I pointed to the hill ahead and said, 'If it were not for this person who knew the way to the Imperial Academy and led the horse first, how could my son and I not go out of Jubaoguo Gate?' From then on, our discussions often followed this pattern." (Page 1-2)
According to the "Collected Works of Master Zou Jiusuo" Volume 3, "Biography of Lord Wenzhuang," at that time, Dongkuo Zou met with Zhan Ganquan, Lü Jingye, and others daily, and his disciples came daily. In Nanjing, as the Chief Guest Officer, he met with Master Zhan Ruoyu and Master Lü Nanyang daily, and his disciples came daily. Some criticized him, saying, "My brother does not enjoy learning, yet he speaks of Yao and acts like Jie." Lord Wenzhuang replied, "Perhaps there are such cases, but is the world without those who speak of Yao but act like Jie? However, there are none who speak of Jie but act like Yao." The person was deeply moved and regretted, and the next day, he also came to seek learning. (Page 324 top)
○ When Zhan Ganquan went north, he passed through Weiyang. His disciple Ge Jian built the "Ganquan Traveling Lodge" for him. Lü Jingye's "Record of the Ganquan Traveling Lodge": The Ganquan Traveling Lodge is the place where the present Vice Minister Ganquan Master Zhan Gong passed. In the Dinghai year of the Jiajing era, the master went north as the Chief Examiner of Education. On his way, he passed through Weiyang (Note: Sometimes written as "Weiyang," which is now Yangzhou). Fifty of his disciples arrived unexpectedly, and after staying for a day, dozens more came to pay their respects with gifts. The master enjoyed this and had the intention of staying. As the carriage was about to depart, Ge Jian requested to establish a meeting agreement for fellow disciples, and more and more people joined. Jian then planned to choose a place one li east of the city, following the veins of Ganquan Mountain, to create the Traveling Lodge. He said, "This can honor the like-minded scholars and discuss the master's teachings." Yangzhou once had Ganquan Mountain, from which the hills of Shugang all branched out.