Two short stories about ancient people’s diligent study
1. Shi Kuang’s theory of learning
In the Spring and Autumn Period of Jin, there was a blind man named Shi Kuang who loved learning. He has profound attainments in music.
One day, Duke Ping of Jin asked Shi Kuang: I am seventy years old and I really want to learn. Is it too late?
Shi Kuang replied: Since it is too late, why not light a candle?
Jin Pinggong thought that his answer was wrong and he was very unhappy. Just say: I am talking to you about serious matters, but you are joking. How can there be any reason for a minister to joke with the king?
Shi Kuang replied: How dare I, a blind minister, joke with the king? I have heard people say: When you are young, you are eager to study, like the rising sun, shining brightly; when you are in your prime, you are eager to study; like the scorching sun in the sky, the flame is dazzling; when you are old, you only think of studying, and the light is just like a candle lit at night, and the light of the candle is indeed far away. Not as good as the sun. However, having this little light is much better than groping in the dark, right?
After hearing this, Duke Ping of Jin nodded and praised: You said it very well!
2. Zheng Qian practiced calligraphy with persimmon leaves
Zheng Qian, a native of Xingyang, Zhengzhou in the Tang Dynasty, was a good friend of Du Fu. When Tianbao was a Xielu Lang in his early years, he collected contemporary historical facts and wrote a historical work containing more than 80 articles. Someone saw it and accused him of writing the history of the country privately. He panicked and burned all the manuscripts. For this, he was punished by being demoted. This blow did not demoralize him, and he studied geography carefully. He had a clear understanding of important issues such as the country's dangerous mountains and rivers, local products, and fortress garrison, and finally wrote a concise and detailed narrative "Tianbaojun". Prevent recording.
He is also a erudite artist who has achieved high achievements in poetry, painting, calligraphy and many other aspects.
He insists on practicing calligraphy every day, but suffers from not having so much paper. He heard that there were several rooms of persimmon leaves stored in Ci'en Temple in the south of Chang'an City, so he moved there. He took out a few every day and wrote the positives and negatives. Over the past few years, several rooms of Persimmon Leaves have been almost completed.
He devoted so much energy to calligraphy. It is not difficult to imagine how he achieved his achievements in other areas.
He once painted a painting and wrote a poem dedicated to Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. After reading it, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty applauded the case and wrote the postscript himself: "Zheng Qian's three unique skills". To this day, people still use the allusion of "Zheng Qian's Three Wonders" to praise artists who are good at poetry, calligraphy, and painting.