Why were there so many prodigies, talented women, and Confucian generals in the Song Dynasty? Related to a mainstream teaching concept at the time

The Song Dynasty was a period of prosperity for Chinese culture, and it was also a period of unprecedented development of education. Whether it was the development of schools, the popularization of culture, or the strong academic atmosphere, it was beyond the reach of previous generations. This is inseparable from the prosperity of culture and high economic development, breakthroughs in scientific and technological innovation, and the cultural policies of the rulers, but the imperial examination system also played a great role in promoting it.

In the Song Dynasty, there were many prodigies, talented women, and Confucian generals. The so-called prodigy is a child with extraordinary intelligence. In the Song Dynasty, there are many records that Wang Yucheng was able to write poems and compositions at the age of nine, Qiu Jun was ten, Kong Wenzhong was seven, Jiang Tang was six, and Huang Tingjian was seven.

In order to select extraordinary children, the imperial court established a special children's department starting from the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty. Song Shou, Yan Shu, Jiang Gai, Li Xin, Cai Boyi, etc. were successively given the same background as Jinshi or scholars during the Zhenzong period of Song Dynasty.

Among them, Cai Boqi from Fujian is the youngest, only three years old. After that, from the Renzong Dynasty to the Huizong Dynasty, 20 people were granted birth status; in the Gaozong Dynasty of the Southern Song Dynasty, 36 people were seeking examinations and 6 were awarded officials; in the Xiaozong Dynasty, 74 people were seeking examinations and 7 were awarded officials; in the Guangzong Dynasty, 74 people were granted examination 17 people. In the first year of Jiaxi (1237), the girl Lin Youyu passed the examination, and Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty issued an edict to grant the special title of Ruren.

There were many child prodigies in the Song Dynasty, which is related to the fact that many people at that time advocated "teaching children at an early age". This view of educating children at an early age led to the widespread establishment of various primary schools and promoted the popularization of culture.

There are too many primary schools in rural areas, and it is inevitable that there will be some teachers who are just cheating. For example, Li Sheng from Qianqiu Township in Poyang (now part of Jiangxi) was Mr. Nanguo. He "didn't read much. He was over fifty years old and still a man of training. His eyes were drowsy and he couldn't see anything at night."

Xie Shenfu taught in his hometown when he was young, and he "had never read "Rabbit Garden"." The so-called "Rabbit Garden" is nothing more than a storybook with pictures for children to read.

This kind of teacher is naturally full of jokes when teaching, and even mispronounces "Yu Yu Hu Wenzai" as "Everyone is equal to me". Cao Yuanchong's "Picture of the Village School" sarcastically said: "This old man is picking up lice, and all the chicks are fighting for the fire. For a long time, they all fell in love with me." Rural schoolchildren take it for granted and actually refuse to accept correction.

At that time, I couldn't help but sigh: "Everyone is equal to me, and the students are all sitting in the hall. It's so elegant that no students come." However, it should be admitted that this type of school did play an important role under the historical conditions at that time. Popularize the role of culture and cultivate many talents. Famous people such as Wang Yucheng, Wang Zeng, Su Shi, Ye Mengde, Zhang Xiaoxiang, Chen Fuliang and other famous people all attended township schools and village schools when they were children.

At that time, "Children in Tuxiang heard about the Three Kingdoms", "When they heard that Liu Xuande was defeated, they frowned and shed tears, and when they heard that Cao Cao was defeated, they sang happily." This should probably also be regarded as the result of the popularization of culture by private primary schools and private teachers.

The concept that "a woman's lack of talent is a virtue" was formed in the late Ming Dynasty. On the contrary, in the Song Dynasty, not only was "the fashion of the time, women all knew how to love talents", but many talents did emerge among them. Speaking of talented women in the Song Dynasty, people immediately think of Li Qingzhao and his "Shu Yu Ci", Zhu Shuzhen and her "Broken Heart Collection", and Su Xun's young daughter Su Baniang, commonly known as Su Xiaomei.

Among the poetry authors selected in Li E’s "Chronicles of Song Poems" from the Qing Dynasty, there were as many as 106 women. As for their origins, they are quite broad, ranging from queens to prostitutes. Wei Tai, a native of the Northern Song Dynasty, said in his "Poetry Talk in Linhan Reclusion": "Women in modern times are more capable of poetry, and there are often those who have reached the ancient times, and Wang Jinggong's family is the most popular."

If Wang Anshi is praised for respecting women, Then Cheng Yi was notorious for discriminating against women, but the women in Cheng Yi's family were also literate. His mother was "good at reading history and knowledgeable about the past and present", and his niece was "well-versed in literature and meaning", "loved to hear about morality and justice", and "spoke and considered matters beyond expectations".

There were many talented women in the Song Dynasty, which is related to the fact that women’s rights to acquire culture were not completely deprived at that time.

Ouyang Xiu compiled "The Preface to the Prefecture's Names". He claimed in the preface that his purpose was "to show his children that they are Cao". Zhu Xi was "disrespectful of "Nvjie"" and planned to compile another volume "to accompany the primary school book".

Although women are targeted for education mainly to instill the feudal ideas of three obediences and four virtues into them, it is also an important reason why the burden of educating children mainly falls on the shoulders of women as mothers. For example, Jia Huangzhong, a political advisor, was knowledgeable and well-informed. Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty summoned his mother Wang and praised her for "teaching her children like this, today's Mother Meng."

"Book." Song Taizong praised: "What a true mother of Mencius!"

In the Five Dynasties when "rough people fought to gain wealth", most of the generals were illiterate. They extremely despised culture and kept saying: "To secure the imperial court and control the chaos, spears and swords, as small as hairy awls, are of no use!", "Articles on etiquette and music are just empty things, so why bother!"

The concept of generals in the Song Dynasty has changed. They generally understand that "a general does not know the past and the present, and the courage of an ordinary man is not enough." Di Qing, who started as a soldier, "has read extensively in books and history, and has studied ancient and modern times." Yue Fei, who was born in a peasant family, "loves virtuous people." A scholar of etiquette, who reads scriptures and history, sings elegant songs and throws pots into pots, and is as coquettish as a scholar."

Speaking of Confucian generals in the Song Dynasty, people may think that they refer specifically to civil servants like Fan Zhongyan who led the army. In fact, military generals such as Di Qing and Yue Fei who were as "sentimental as scholars" seem to be called Confucian generals. In addition, Guo Kui, a famous general in the mid-Northern Song Dynasty, was known for his studiousness in his youth. He "was pregnant with two cakes every day, reading "Hanshu" in the West Restaurant of the Capital Prefecture. When hungry, he ate the cakes, drank a liter of wine, and then read. When he returned home at dusk, he took it as a rule."

Feng Shouxin, an official at the time of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty and the deputy commander of the Infantry Guards, said, "Although he was in the military, he studied "The Book of Filial Piety" and "The Analects of Confucius" as his teachings, and people still regarded them as Confucian." Wang Anshi praised: "Since I was in the field, I didn't use the scriptures with my hands, so I used what I learned to educate the soldiers."

Yang Yi praised: "There are many warriors in this dynasty who are good at poetry." Cao Cao, a famous general in the early Song Dynasty Han complained through a poem and wrote the poem "Retired General": "Once upon a time, when the country was in crisis, I wore golden armor, but I did not sell my sword for the poor family." Even Han Shizhong, who "didn't know how to read at the beginning", after learning, "can also write short poems in his later years." ". #松朝#

This article is excerpted from "Twelve Lectures on the History of the Song Dynasty" written by Zhang Quanming and Li Wentao

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