What have you learned from reading the books of sages?
Chen Qizhi
"What did you learn from reading sage books?" This is a line that Wen Tianxiang boasts. After Wen Tianxiang's death, people found this song "Praise Me" on his belt. The full text is: "Confucius said benevolent governance, Mencius said taking righteousness, and its righteousness is exhausted, so it is benevolent governance. What have you learned from reading the books of sages? Every now and then, I have no conscience! " The ancients had the habit of writing sermons on their belts. When Su Shi read the sentence "An Yu stole from Japan, Zhuang Jingqiang stole from Japan" in Shangshu, he once said that "this language can be written in all books". Books and tapes are convenient to mention and tear up the words and deeds of the police at any time, which shows the importance they attach to the aphorisms of later generations. It can be said that it is too heavy for children and adolescents nowadays. But reading classic poems is actually reading sage books. What have you learned? You can't stop asking.
Since the classical poetry reading project was launched, the famous teacher Shi Xian has expounded this issue many times, so those who reiterate it must be added to China to benefit from it.
Today, advocating the reading of classical poetry is not thinking about ancient love, but has far-reaching practical significance, and it is not just to make up for our shortcomings. Today, however, we advocate reading classics. What are the pedants doing? This involves a question: "Why do people study?" This ancient and ever-changing problem. China's traditional answer has always been only one, and that is "reading". What is the reason? The first is to understand the truth of being a man. The second is to know the truth. The sum of human principles is called ethics, which belongs to the category of "virtue"; The truth of things is called rationality and physics respectively, which belong to the knowledge of knowledge. The western tradition initiated by ancient Greece attaches importance to the pursuit of knowledge, but does not ignore the ethics of morality. China's ancient tradition paid more attention to moral cultivation than the pursuit of knowledge, especially the lack of exploration of physics, so it fell behind the West in science and technology in modern times and fell into a passive situation. Over the past hundred years, while introducing Mr. De and Mr. Sai, we have criticized and even liquidated the traditional culture, and overcorrected it, resulting in the situation of moral decay and humanistic repression today. No matter ethics, rationality or physics, they are equally important in terms of weight; In inheritance, ethics should take precedence over reason and physics, and being a man is the basis of doing things and controlling things (using physics). Therefore, understanding should begin with understanding the truth of being a man, which should not be doubted.
The ancients regarded "reading and understanding" as their lifelong pursuit, paid special attention to the education in early childhood, thought that the earlier the better, and put forward the theory of prenatal education. The content of education mainly focuses on the cultivation of good temperament. People think that temperament is the foundation of life ambition, so education in this period is also called "building a foundation". In order to lay a good personality, it is necessary to cultivate the foundation from an early age, which has been affirmed by modern scholars. Studies have proved that at this time, although children do not have the ability of autonomous learning, they can rely on intuition to absorb the surrounding information indiscriminately, just like looking at things in a mirror. Therefore, adults should create a good family atmosphere, pay attention to their words and deeds, do not pollute their pure hearts, and guide their behavior correctly. The education in the first stage of life is called the period of "raising children".
In the second period of life, I began to enter the stage of reading and understanding. The ancients called learning in this period "nurturing children and keeping integrity". "Childhood" refers to the state that knowledge is about to bloom, just like when the sky is about to dawn. Learning the wisdom of life in childhood is like the sun shining in the night sky to open the dawn, which is also called enlightenment. "Cultivating honesty" means cultivating their correct thoughts and behaviors. Of course, "cultivating honesty" cannot rely on instilling moral preaching. Instead, children's strong thirst for knowledge and strong memory during this period were used to learn to recite some tempered classic poems. These screened classical poems are all art that integrates truth, goodness, beauty and wisdom in one furnace, and integrates sound, emotion, shape, image, reason and meaning. No matter from which angle, it will gradually appreciate, showing its full significance and benefiting people for life. Therefore, children's reading, although focusing on sound, does not require too much understanding, but the sound enters the heart and the reader's mind is edified. As for the potential and profound enlightenment, it will be gradually released and expanded with the experience of life.
When I was a teenager, I entered the stage of being proud. The seeds sown in childhood are already spreading roots and buds, and it is the choice period of high spirits and lifelong ambition to vomit vigorously. Reading at this time, on the basis of classical poetry, should increase the history books and touching stories of historical figures at all times and in all countries, which will play a great encouraging role in guiding ideals and inspiring lofty aspirations and become an invisible driving force for further study. A journey of thousands of miles, Li Fengyun, starts from the moment you make up your mind, and accumulates endless energy. Confucius, as a teacher of human relations, is determined to learn in five cases out of ten. His life has set an example for young people of all ages to learn. Isn't his exposition on the three virtues of wisdom, benevolence and courage and the cultivation of gentleman's personality the goal that we should pursue all our lives? "From the mountain, the scenery stops. Although it is unreachable, my heart yearns for it." Sima Qian's voice in Historical Records has become an echo in endless time and space!
Ancient classics have nurtured the backbone of the Chinese nation from generation to generation, making our nation stand in the east of the world so far. At the same time, because of the inexhaustible source of living water, our national culture is like a surging river in the ocean. Classics of eternal value to sages, beautiful chapters recited in past dynasties and heroic deeds recorded in historical books have merged into the wisdom of our national culture and the long river of life. The purpose of teaching children to read aloud. When his mind is pure, he will bathe in the light of these wisdom and roam in the stream of life that will never be wasted. It can not only help him distinguish right from wrong, be firm and decisive in his future life journey, overcome difficulties and adversity, and meet the challenges of changes in the external world, thus undertaking the historical mission of the development of our nation and mankind in the new century.
It can be seen that what children learn from primary school is not only related to everyone's life, but also to the future of our nation and even mankind. Looking back on the current social situation, people have to think about the source of the disease while worrying: there is something wrong with education.
Generations of people who have been trained through decades of textbooks have stood the test of different times and certainly have the same characteristics, such as firm political stance and cautious words and deeds. But there are also some different problems. When these different problems are restored, it is not difficult to find their similarities, that is, they only know how to do things and don't know how to be a man, especially for the newly grown generation. Behind the economic development and market prosperity, moral decay and trust crisis are not enough to cause deep concern! Regardless of corrupt officials and bribery, the growing hypocrisy and vanity in the new generation is opportunistic; See profit and forget righteousness, ignorance and distrust; Mercenary, desperate; It is shocking to kill animals, even their parents, and behave as if nothing had happened. How can you not regret all this? The first few items are about the universality of this phenomenon, and the latter one is about its seriousness. The universality of the former, if left unchecked, is no less harmful than the latter.
Of course, there are many reasons, but the inability of basic education to adapt to the open society after bringing order out of chaos is an important factor.
Or quality education is to save our lives. However, those who are full of quality education can play the piano, draw pictures, dance, sing, play ball and dance? ! Spiritual education and personality cultivation. I didn't see this, but it was caused by the impact of the economic tide in the social transition period, which not only helped to increase its confusion! Excuse me, is the foundation of the levee as solid as golden soup? He Wei also made waves.
The real and urgent purpose of the classical poetry reading activity advocated today is to solve the problem of how to be a man. And provide a basic principle for doing anything and lay a solid foundation for future career. As for the specific occupation, we should focus on personal interests, and the most important thing is to keep up with the development of the times, keep pace with the times, meet the needs of society and the urgent needs of the people. We don't need to be philosophers and poets. But no matter what you do in the future, you must have this quality reserve. Moreover, China's classics and poems have different ways and directions of thinking. Applying these treasures of wisdom to scientific research initiated by the west often gives people a sense of twists and turns and Huo Ran's mastery; Or in the global business operation, it can also provide a strategy that can not only sustain development, but also win by surprise. Therefore, not only teenagers, teachers and adults should study, for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, for winning in the global business war game, for rectifying the deteriorating living environment, that is, for the future of the human world. It is dangerous to just follow in the footsteps of the west! While studying western science, we can't lose the wisdom of our own nation. Only by understanding the past and the present and integrating China and the West can we move towards a bright and prosperous road.
However, some people still regard this kind of poetry reading as a spiritual aesthetic education project and as a kind of talent like the so-called "quality education". Compete to compile and select readers and distribute them to students like other supplementary teaching materials added in recent years. This method of adding corresponding courses when problems arise will not only increase the extra burden on teachers and students, but also easily arouse students' resistance, which goes against the original intention of advocates. The necessity and urgency of classic reading are well known. However, many teachers, parents and students have to give up what they should learn because of the conflict with practical utilitarian goals (such as entrance examination) and the competition for time.
Since the purpose of reading classics is to educate children and cultivate sentiment, every student will become a talented person in all fields with excellent academic performance and both ability and political integrity after completing his studies and entering the society, and even a public intellectual who can cross the political, economic and artistic industries. He is entrusted with the important task of social modernization. In order to achieve this goal, the scope of reading and learning is not necessarily limited to the scope of ancient classics, but modern literature and many famous western works should be brought into our field of vision. Throughout ancient and modern times, China and foreign countries, there should be inexhaustible resources in this area.
As the crystallization of human wisdom, ancient classics and Chinese and Western masterpieces have such an important role and significance in improving the quality of our nation, so the reading project should be formally incorporated into the national plan, not just promoted by the people. Therefore, I think that some chapters in classics and poems about how to be a person with eternal truth should be directly used as textbooks for primary and secondary schools (nine-year compulsory education) and incorporated into Chinese textbooks to replace outdated content. According to the same standard and a certain proportion, select a number of beautiful articles with true feelings from modern stylistic texts and enrich them into teaching materials. Integrate the cultivation of moral sentiment with the study of cultural knowledge to avoid the split of personality. Only when a person learns to be a man first can he have the qualification and ability to choose a career and political path.
By the high school stage, we should distinguish the four different development directions of literature, science, engineering and technology, and formulate mathematics, physics, chemistry, Chinese and foreign language textbooks with different difficulties. That is, students who choose liberal arts should focus on the study of popular science knowledge and history of science, rather than the calculation of mathematics and physics exercises; Students who are ready to enter the hall of science and technology and choose the direction of science and technology should carry out basic training in Chinese and western humanities and ideological education and thesis writing on the basis of junior high school Chinese. As for foreign languages, students who choose arts, science, technology and crafts should generally lower their requirements, and take conversational ability as the standard to encourage students who have spare capacity to take the exam. In this regard, I agree with Mr. Du Zuyi's proposition that a national compilation bureau should be set up to translate foreign materials and scientific research results as soon as possible, and it is not necessary for everyone to learn a foreign language well before studying; Save energy and devote yourself to establishing a Chinese-style academic and scientific system. Based on this, we will adjust the curriculum structure of schools at all levels, liberate and improve the learning productivity, so that students can concentrate on the courses they are prepared to devote themselves to in the future. At this time, the sense of responsibility and wisdom gained from classic reading will be transformed into help to improve learning and work efficiency. Improve China's competitiveness in various international fields as a whole.
The current education situation is that all the subjects to be studied, regardless of priority, whether they can be digested now or not, are placed in front of all students. Strong study pressure deprives children of leisure time and space to create imagination. After all, only a few smart students have come out of this maze of "all-round development", and most students with special skills have lost the opportunity to continue their studies and even succeed. Therefore, we should recognize the differences between children's interests and intelligence and respect their interests and choices. Cherishing children's energy and time means cherishing the life and opportunities of our nation. Especially in today's comprehensive and deep international competition, it is particularly necessary to improve everyone's quality and give full play to everyone's strengths. Therefore, it is imperative to adjust the educational strategy and change the teaching mode.
Another purpose of reading classics is to cultivate patriotic sentiments. The concept of the motherland is extensive and should not be restricted by attributes. It should include several excellent rivers and mountains in the territory of Wan Li, as well as thousands of years of ancient culture produced in this land. By reading the poems with the deepest feelings and the most beautiful connotations in the past dynasties, children feel that they are connected with the blood of the motherland and that their lives depend on each other. This is a hot spot where he was born and raised in Sri Lanka and is ready to devote himself to Sri Lanka. This is not only the starting point for him to fly from Wan Li to the world, but also the home of the towering trees in thousands of feet.
Of course, reading classics and changing temperament is not only for children, but also for every adult. The ancients said: "Less is easy to learn, like the day of sunrise; Strong and eager to learn, such as the light of Japan and China; Old and studious, bright as a candle. What is the light of the candle? " (Said Yuan Jianben was written in Shi Kuang) Adults shoulder the dual responsibilities of national construction and education for future generations. They should pick up their books again, whether for work performance or to set an example first, and it will be beneficial to open them. Although his memory is not as good as that of a teenager, his understanding has reached its peak, and he can quickly translate what he has learned into his work and behavior. The sound of books can at least bring a breeze to the money society; The teachings of sages can lead the infinitely expanding material desires in the right direction, less impetuous and more upright; Less arrogance and more tolerance. The so-called "the great benefit of learning lies in changing temperament." (Zhang Zaiyu) The letter is true. Shi Kuang compared the old people's desire to learn to be bright to a candle. Although the light is weak, it is better than groping in the dark. In fact, anyone who doesn't study will let himself fall into a dark situation of unknown interpersonal physics. Life is easy, but prosperity is difficult. For the sake of national rejuvenation, it is essential to seize the opportunity given by globalization, learn from western science and technology, review national wisdom and innovate and develop. "Lost in the East corner, Sang Yu is harvested." It is never too late to work hard.
What have you learned from reading the book of sages? We already have the answer. To sum up, it is to cultivate children's sympathy, the ambition to fly to Wan Li, the spirit of interrogation and persistence, and the sentiment of truth, goodness and beauty. And after finishing school, I will bring this perfect personality to all fields of society and to all corners of the world. In order to realize human ideals and make new contributions to our nation.
By extension, the significance of classic reading projects is becoming more and more important. If it is carried out continuously and widely, it will surely set off a cultural revival movement comparable to the "European Renaissance" in the east of the world, further promoting the development of world civilization on a healthier road, and a brand-new civilized realm will soon be presented to the world.