After reading "Zi Zhi Tong Jian" 1200 words

Zizhi Tongjian has been very popular since it was written. Here are a few: Wang Yinglin, a historian in the Southern Song Dynasty: "Since the beginning of the book contract, there is nothing like "Tongjian"."

Hu Sansheng at the end of the Song Dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty: "If you are a ruler and do not know the "Tongjian", you will want to rule but do not know the source of the rule, and you will cause chaos but do not know how to prevent it; if you are a minister and do not know the "Tongjian", then there will be no superiority. If you serve the emperor, you will not be able to govern the people; if you are a son of a man and do not know "Tongjian", you will definitely end up humiliating the first, and you will not be able to do things well for the later."

Gu Yanwu of the Qing Dynasty: ("Zi Zhi"). "Tongjian" and "Tongkao of Literature") "were all completed with a lifetime of energy, and thus became indispensable books for future generations."

Zeng Guofan of the Qing Dynasty said: "I have stolen books from sages who shocked the world, but no one is better than Sima Wenzhenggong's "Zizhi Tongjian". His discussion of ancient times is extremely eclectic and open-minded."

< p> Modern scholar Liang Qichao: "Sima Wen Gong's "Tongjian" is also one of the great texts of heaven and earth. Its grand structure and rich materials make it impossible for future generations who want to write a general history to use it as a blueprint, and it still remains today. There is no one who can be cured. Mr. Wen is also a great man!" With so many good reputations, it seems that "Zi Zhi Tong Jian" has become an indispensable book for kings and ministers to govern the country, but I am puzzled: "Since Shenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty and until Puyi in the late Qing Dynasty, there has been no example of anyone bringing great governance to a country because of "Zi Zhi Tong Jian"." The questioner has no intention, and the listener is speechless?

I am ignorant and shallow to begin with. Of course I dare not criticize the sages in some people’s minds, nor can I spread rumors about the classics that some people are familiar with. If this book can really be "qualified to govern the Tao in view of the past," why? Did the Northern Song Dynasty fall to the Jin Dynasty, the Southern Song Dynasty to the Yuan Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty? Don’t those who live in temples understand the principles of the sages’ classics? Why would they let the “barbarians” invade China, kill my wife, and destroy my home? This is obviously a bit incomprehensible.

From the content point of view, "Zizhi Tongjian" is all-encompassing, covering politics, economics, institutions, military and other aspects. Especially about politics and military affairs, which are the top priority of this book. It is clear and brilliant, and I am not hesitant to praise it. But this still does not change that this book is just the opinion of Sima Guang and others. It is a summary of historical experience. How much it can be of benefit to future generations is probably a matter of benevolence and wisdom.

Of course, I am not denying the value of this book, but I just hope that you will not be superstitious about this book. After all, the real world is not a martial arts world. With a book or a magic sword, you can dominate the world and dominate the world. If someone connects a book with the rise and fall of a country, this is simply a mythical logic. It is also like someone taking out the story of Zhao Pu's "half of the Analects to rule the world" and feeling proud of it. This kind of nonsense It's better to believe less in stories like Q's.

I dare not deny that "Zi Zhi Tong Jian" is a good history book, I just question its promotion to the altar of unparalleled status. From the perspective of historical value, this book is indeed rare, but from the perspective of historical summary, it still cannot fulfill this important task today. Let’s temporarily give up our superstition on this book and return to the original question: What is the purpose of studying history?

Obviously, when we study history, we do not mean to imitate cats and imitate tigers, and treat today as a repeat of history. If we insist on copying it mechanically, I am afraid it will only make a joke of imitating tigers instead of anti-dogs. When studying history, the important thing is the connotation, understanding the spirit, culture, and system, and recognizing the social conditions and the nature of human nature. As for the concern for the country of the wise king, the mediocrity of the ignorant king, the uprightness of the loyal ministers, the obsequiousness of the treacherous ministers, the deception of war, the value of peace, the bloody power, the ordinary truth, etc., I hope they will be kept in the book and not taken out. Be smug. They only reflect the depth of history, not the capital to show off today.

We come from history and go to the future. The road ahead is our path, instead of turning around and looking back, envying those three kings and five emperors, otherwise our history will really become an old running book!

Remember, the future is ahead, don’t look back!