Speaking of Li Zhi, I believe many people know it. Li Zhi is a very famous thinker in the history of Ming Dynasty in China. About Li Zhi, he is a thinker who advocates the study of mind. At the same time, Li Zhi opposes the eight-part essay , there are still many comments about Li Zhi. The most discussed thing is why Li Zhi was rated as the old man? It is said that people at that time called Li Zhi the old man. This may be because Li Zhi's thoughts were not consistent with the public at that time, so he was called the old man. Blame it on the old man, let’s take a look at the details!
Li Zhi was born in 1527. He is a Hui nationality, and his ancestors moved to Quanzhou, Fujian in the early Ming Dynasty. His original surname was Lin, but he later changed his name to Li Zhi, with the courtesy name Hongfu and the nickname Zhuowu. Li Zhi was very smart since he was a child. He started writing essays at the age of 12 and passed the high school examination at the age of 26. He served as an official in the court for more than 20 years, from an instructor in a county to a prefect, but he resigned from his official position when he was 55 years old.
After resigning, Li Zhi lived in Hubei, Beijing, Nanjing and other places, mostly in friends' homes or temples. During this period, Li Zhi studied classics and wrote books and lectures. Although his lectures were quite popular in the local area, he was often opposed by conservative forces such as the government and was expelled because of his "deviance". In 1602, Li Zhi was arrested and imprisoned, and his writings considered "heretical" were also burned. Soon after, Li Zhi committed suicide in prison. He was already seventy-six years old at the time. He was buried by his friends after his death.
Li Zhi wrote many books throughout his life, mainly including "Collection of Books", "Extended Collection of Books", "Book Burning", etc. In addition, he highly praised "Water Margin" and "The Romance of the West Chamber" and made his own commentaries on both of them . In his writings and lectures, he often commented on current affairs and commented on history. He opposed Confucianism, especially Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, and criticized the oppression of feudal ethics on people; exposed and criticized the dark nature of feudal rule, and denounced political corruption; advocated utilitarianism and valued the status of businessmen; advocated the "childlike innocence theory" and believed that articles should not be falsified But to express one's true heart.
After Li Zhi's death, he received mixed praise and criticism from later generations. However, although his works were repeatedly banned by the government, they became more widely circulated.
The story of Li Zhi
Although Li Zhi was considered a deviant by the court, he was quite popular among the people, so many stories about him were spread. For example, Li Zhi's original surname was Lin, but he changed his surname to Li because his ancestors offended local officials, so he changed his surname and moved again to escape.
It is said that Li Zhi only returned to his hometown of Quanzhou, Fujian twice in his life. Once when his father passed away, he happened to encounter Japanese pirates burning, killing and looting. So Li Zhi ignored going home to attend the funeral and took his family to help the locals fight. The Japanese pirates are coming.
Li Zhi once had a son, but he died earlier than him. It is said that his wife was still young when her son died. Li Zhi advised his daughter-in-law not to be sad about her husband's death and to let her remarry someone else. Li Zhi also recommended one of his disciples who was a fisherman to her as a partner. In the end, his daughter-in-law was moved and listened to his advice, and they remarried happily.
Among all Li Zhi’s stories, the most famous is the story about the strange old man that was circulated when he lived in Zhifo Temple in Macheng, Hubei. Legend has it that Li Zhi not only read poetry and books and was knowledgeable, but he also did farm work and cultivated wasteland and grew vegetables. Li Zhi chose a nearby Diaoyutai as the venue for his lectures. There were no distinctions between male and female teachers, and he required his disciples to read loudly and jump around, preferably doing two somersaults. Li Zhi did not teach his disciples the Four Books and Five Classics, nor did he teach them to write eight-part essay. He only taught them some practical and interesting things. At that time, he often played with children and gave them riddles about brooms, poles and other ordinary little things. It is said that Li Zhi also asked a riddle that the children could not guess. The answer was that the king is not king and his ministers are not subordinate. Father is not father and son is not son. This series of actions earned Li Zhi the nickname "Weird Old Man" in the local area.
Li Zhi Sitting Alone
In addition to being a thinker, Li Zhi was also a writer, but he did not leave many poems. Among them, "Sitting Alone" can be said to be the most outstanding and famous one. of.
The whole poem is as follows: A guest opens his eyes, but no one cares about the fallen flowers. The warm wind smokes the fine grass, and the cool moon shines on the clear sand. Guests are haunted by doubts and dreams for a long time, and friends come without remembering home. The book on the piano is still unfinished, and I sit alone to see the sunset.
The first couplet writes that he is overjoyed when guests come, and feels lonely when he is alone. The two contrast, and the former should be said to set off the latter. As far as Li Zhi's life is concerned, his life was dominated by loneliness. He resigned from home and lived away from home, with few like-minded friends. The couplet is a description of the environment, probably the scenery Li Zhi saw when he was sitting alone. The neck couplet is similar to the first couplet. It contrasts the situation when guests come with the situation when you are alone. When you are alone, you look through memories and miss your hometown, which can only be solved by the company of friends. The final couplet is about Li Zhi watching the sunset. Although the sunset is beautiful, it can only be enjoyed by one person, and I will eventually send it away.
As the title says, the whole poem is closely related to the word "independence". Through environmental description, contrast and other techniques, the inner loneliness of the poet Li Zhi is reflected. Li Zhi left home when he was young, and it is said that he only returned to his hometown twice. He even committed suicide in prison when he knew he would be sent back. It can be said that the young man left home and the boss never returned. This is one reason why Li Zhi is lonely. But the more important thing is that there are too few people who share the same path. Li Zhi's thoughts and ideas were not allowed in the world at that time and were heresies. Naturally, there were very few people who could confirm his friendship with him. After that, his friends were scattered all over the country and finally became rare.
Li Zhi’s remarks and character often give people a feeling of bohemianness, but from this song "Sitting Alone" we can understand the more real and fragile side of his heart, which reminds people of Ruan Ji’s rampant but desperate cry. .
Li Zhi’s former residence
After Li Zhi’s death, although people in the Ming and Qing dynasties gave him mixed praise, in modern times the progressive nature of his ideas and propositions was affirmed, and his status also followed. With such improvement, the place where he lived when he was a boy is now the former residence of Li Zhi.
Li Zhi’s former residence is now located on Wanshou Road, South Gate, Licheng District, Quanzhou, Fujian. Li Zhi was born here. Although his family is from the Hui ethnic group, his ancestors moved here in the early Ming Dynasty. According to records, it was during the Yongle period. At that time, Li Zhi's family was very wealthy, especially Quanzhou, which was famous for its port trade, so the place where his former residence was located was a commercial area at that time. However, by the time Li Zhi was born, the family was already in decline and the old house was burned down. Therefore, this house was later rebuilt by Li Zhi and even expanded after his death. Even so, the former residence is just an ordinary private house, with homes and small shops on both sides. Only one hall has been preserved to this day, which has been restored as a memorial hall.
In the center of the courtyard of his former residence, there is a bust statue of Li Zhi, dressed as a scholar, with an old face and a frown. Under the statue is a square marble, with a brief introduction to Li Zhi's life in just a few words engraved on the front. Inside the courtyard is the only remaining hall. On the door of the hall hangs a horizontal plaque reading "Li Zhi's Former Residence" and a red lantern on each side. On the wall on the left, there is a wooden plaque hanging vertically, with the words "Former Residence of Li Zhi" on it. In the narrow hall, there is a full-length portrait and several display cabinets. In the display cabinets are Li Zhi's works and some historical materials. Engraved on the wall are couplets written by modern calligraphers. In addition, two seals of Li Zhi were unearthed in the former residence.
Today, Li Zhi's former residence has been listed as a key cultural relic protection unit in Fujian Province.