When he was twenty-five or five years old, he asked Zhu Xi about Yi. Zhu Xi understood his knowledge and saw that his conversation was extraordinary. He was surprised and said: "This is an old friend of mine. He should not be among his disciples." Scholars, Zhu must let Yuanding take the exam before he can enter the school. Zhu and Cai were close friends for forty years, studying knowledge, writing books and lecturing, and became Zhu Xi's right and left arm academically.
In the sixth year of Qiandao (1169 AD), Cai Yuanding went to Xishan to build the "Question Hall", which was far opposite Zhu Xi's "Hui'an Thatched Cottage" in Yungu. In order to keep in touch with the scholars in time, lanterns were hung on the two mountains facing each other to signal each other at night. The dim lights indicated that there were difficulties in studying, and the next day they came to solve the problems. Whenever Yuan Ding came to Zhu's place, Zhu would stay with him for several days, and he would often stay up all night discussing studies. In the third year of Baoyou's reign, Emperor Lizong ordered the construction of the "Xishan Jingshe" for this purpose, and sculpted and painted statues of Cai Yuanding and Zhu Xi facing each other while preaching. The huge characters "西山" in the imperial book were carved on the stone cliff by Sun Hang.
Cai Yuanding taught people to put nature and heaven first, branch from the root, and flow from the source. Everyone who heard it would rise up. When he gave lectures in Xishan, students often crowded inside and outside the library. Zhu Xi said: "Creation is subtle, but those who understand it deeply can understand it. I have never tired of talking to Ji Tong." Huang Qian, a student, said: "When I started studying at Hui'an, I first tried Cai Gong's door in Xishan. There are many people who follow him! When you come to visit me, you will stay for a few days, and you will often stay up all night to discuss your studies. Those who come to visit you will always pass by your father's house, and you will not be able to bear to leave because of his remarks. , and He's teachings are the most profound."
Xi Shanggong did not do anything for money or salary in his life. He did not take the imperial examination when he was 40 years old. He was recommended by ministers to the court and the emperor issued edicts. He persisted in speaking sharply and devoted himself to studying knowledge. It is your duty to write a book. He is the author of fourteen books in the world, including "Lü Lu Xinshu", "Huang Ji Jing Shi Yao Yao" and "Eight Chen Illustrations". In the third year of Qingyuan (AD 1197), the powerful minister Han Yuzhou was good at governing. He created the "Prohibition of Pseudo-Learning" to refer to Taoism as "pseudo-science", designated the "Four Books" and the "Six Classics" as banned books, and falsely accused the Pseudo Party of Fifty-Nine Zhu Xi was labeled as the "leader of false learning" and resigned from his post. He falsely accused Cai Yuan of being Zhu Xi's right and left winger, and was demoted to the post of director of Hunan Daozhou. After Yuan Ding received the news, he reported to Fuzhi without saying goodbye to his family. His third son Cai Chen and his student Qiu Chong accompanied him and walked to the Yingzhou Bridge in Kaoting. Zhu Xi and more than a hundred of his disciples bid farewell. Many people cried with sadness. Ding was calm and composed, just like ordinary people. Before leaving, he wrote a poem saying: "holding hands and smiling goodbye, not feeling sad for the children, walking with a light and strong look, shaking the clothes, never failing to live up to what he has learned, this heart can be known." Zhu Xihan Said: "Friends' love for each other and Ji Tong's unyielding ambition can be said to be the best of both worlds!"
Zhu Xi asked Yuan Ding a question about "Shen Tongqi", and Cai answered it fluently in public. All admired. Zhu sent Yuan Ding to the "Hanquan Jingshe" in Mafu. The two of them worked together to compile the book "Shen Tong Qi" and stayed up all night. The next day, he walked 3,000 miles in severe cold, wind and snow, his feet bleeding, and arrived at Daozhou where he was demoted. The father and son students insisted on reading and discussing studies. Scholars from all over the world heard about it, and many scholars came to seek help. Yuan Ding was not afraid of the court. Despite the pressure, he insisted on teaching apprentices and teaching tirelessly. It can be said that he does not lower his ambitions and does not humiliate his noble character. The climate in Daozhou, Hunan is severe, and Yuan Dinggong has been sick all year round, and it is difficult to cure him with all kinds of treatments. He is thinking about the Yi Yi, the Spring and Autumn Period is not finished, and there is a number of Hong Fan. Scholars have long lost his biography, but Yuan Ding alone has found it, but he has not been able to do it. On the writings, I asked my son to write a book, saying: "Yuan should teach me to learn Yi, Shen should play my emperor Jishu (Hong Fan's number), and the spring and Autumn period should belong to Hang." Chang Xun said to the scholars: "Walking alone does not deserve the shadow, sleeping alone does not deserve the shame. Quilt, don't let me offend you for no reason. He also said: "Keep benevolence, righteousness, propriety, knowledge, and trust every step of the way, and you can pass it on to your descendants." "He died of illness on the ninth day of August in the fourth year of Qingyuan. The ministers sent a memorial and ordered him to be buried. His son carried a coffin three thousand miles away and returned it. On the sixth day of November, he was buried at the source of Cuilan Mountain in Jukou, Jianyang. In 2000 AD, All descendants from home and abroad raised funds to build the Xishan Cemetery into the "Xishan Cemetery".
In the third year of Kaixi (AD 1207), all those who were punished for their crimes were punished, and the imperial court vindicated Cai Yuanding and gave him Di. In the 44th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Shengzuren conferred the posthumous title of Wen Jie on the crown prince Taifu. Wings" gold plaque.