The most brilliant part of the article is the humorous writing of the author, as if he did not need to take into account the seriousness of history. In this paper, the ridicule and satire of Li Zhi and others abound. For example, he said that Li Zhi's best-selling book was a popular idol, that Yanwu was jealous and sour, and that Li Zhi didn't want pie in the sky. In addition, the author uses very modern words in the article, and there are many online terms, such as "sample", "fans" and "happiness as a flower". Li Zhi: The First Thought Offender in Ming Dynasty is not an orthodox historical article, but more like a story essay. Although the author made fun of Li Zhi, he still maintained his respect for him in his inheritance. The real target of irony was the court and society of the Ming Dynasty. As can be seen from the last sentence at the end of the article, Li Zhi hanged himself with a razor and pursued freedom. His death "declared the silence of the ideological circle in the late Ming Dynasty, the remoteness of the free era and the silent contempt for the feudal court". Li Zhi was a famous thinker in Ming Dynasty, and many of his thoughts are now considered to be progressive. His philosophical thought is different from the orthodox Neo-Confucianism at that time, and tends to subjective idealism, which has a lot to do with his mind and Buddhist beliefs. Li Zhi emphasized "sincerity" and thought that everything in the world only exists in one sincerity, which is in line with Wang Yangming's opinion.
Li Zhi's thought is critical, inconsistent with tradition or even relative, which is why he is often regarded as deviant and finally arrested and imprisoned. The objects of his criticism are: first, Confucianism. He belittled or even denied Confucius and Mencius' status as saints, thinking that everyone can be a saint, and there is no need to learn from saints, let alone take their views on right and wrong as their own standards. This idea is essentially advocating individuality. Second, feudal ethics. He criticized feudal ethics for imprisoning ideas, especially for oppressed women. To this end, he often denounced those who maintained feudal ethics and accused them of hypocrisy and hypocrites. Third, feudal rule. Li Zhi wrote a book collection and evaluated many historical figures. He exposed the cruelty of feudal rulers and the corruption of the imperial court, which was a manifestation of his dissatisfaction with real politics. Fourth, emphasize agriculture and restrain business. He advocates utilitarianism and emphasizes the importance of business. These thoughts caused an uproar at that time and were severely criticized by many literati at that time and later in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
In literature, Li Zhi put forward the theory of childlike innocence. He advocates that writing poems should not be faked, but should express his true feelings and thoughts. His opinion was against the retro style of writing popular in the society at that time. In the 30th year of Wanli (1602), Li Zhi was arrested at his friend Ma's home in Tongzhou. After Li Zhi resigned at the age of 55, he has been living in Hubei, first at the home of his good friend Geng Theorem, and then alone in Macheng Zhifu Hospital. During this period, I read books and often give lectures. It is said that when he was giving lectures, there were thousands of people who came to listen, including some women, which shows that Li Zhi's theory was very popular in the local area at that time. Ma Jinglun also admired Li Zhi's name and later came to Macheng to find him. However, at that time, Li Zhizheng was attacked by Macheng officials and local moralists, saying that he was a heresy. Although Li Zhi was fearless, they destroyed his residence and expelled him from Macheng. So, after that, Ma took Li Zhi to Tongzhou. In the following year, they were also teachers and friends, studying together until Li Zhi was arrested. Li Zhi was 76 years old when he was arrested. He is not only old and weak, but also ill.
It is said that when Li Zhi was arrested, he repeatedly advised Ma to go by himself. Later, his family and friends came to persuade him, but he resolutely accompanied Li Zhi to Beijing. When Li Zhi was in prison, he also tried his best to take care of and maintain him. After Li Zhi committed suicide, Ma's last words buried him in Tongzhou. Li Zhi was arrested in Tongzhou and finally buried in Tongzhou, to be exact, on the side of Fu Ying Temple outside the north gate of Tongzhou. Later, Li Zhi's close friends and descendants erected a tombstone for him, but it was destroyed. Li Zhi Cemetery has been forced to relocate many times, and now it is located in Xihaizi Park, Tongzhou, Beijing. It also retains a tombstone from the Wanli period, and two new monuments were erected when things were moved. Li Zhi Tomb is now a cultural relic protection unit in Beijing.
After Li Zhi's death, people praised him differently in Ming and Qing Dynasties, but in modern times, the progressiveness of his thought was affirmed and his status was improved. The place where he lived as a teenager is now Li Zhi's former residence. Li Zhi's former residence is located in Wanshou Road, South Gate, Licheng District, Quanzhou, Fujian. Li Zhi was born here that year. Although his family is Hui, his ancestors moved here in the early Ming Dynasty, which is recorded as the Yongle period. At that time, the Li Zhi family was very rich, especially Quanzhou was famous for its port business, so the place where the former residence was located was a business district at that time. But by the time Li Zhi was born, the family fortune had fallen and the old house was burnt down, so this house was later rebuilt by Li Zhi and expanded after his death. Even so, the former residence is just an ordinary private house with people and small shops on both sides. Only one hall has been preserved so far, and it is now restored as a memorial hall.
In the center of the courtyard of the former residence, there is a bust of Li Zhi, dressed as a scholar, with an old face and a frown. Below the statue is a square marble, and the front is engraved with a brief introduction of Li Zhi's life, with hundreds of words. Inside the yard is the only remaining hall. On the door of the hall, there is a horizontal plaque of "Li Zhi's former residence", with a red lantern on each side. On the left wall, there is a wooden plaque with the words "Li Zhi's former residence" written on it. In the narrow hall, there is a full-length portrait and several display cases, which contain Li Zhi's works and some historical materials. The wall is engraved with couplets written by modern calligraphers. In addition, two seals of Li Zhi were unearthed in the former residence. Now, Li Zhi's former residence has been listed as a key cultural relic protection unit in Fujian Province.