What is the central argument of Shi Shuo?

The central argument of Shi Shuo is that "ancient scholars must have teachers". "Ancient" refers to people who studied before the Han Dynasty, and "scholar" refers to people with specialized knowledge, which is different from what is said today.

The author wants to preach the teaching principles by taking The Scholars as an example, so he put it forward at the beginning of the article. "There must be a teacher", which attributes the achievements and expertise of scholars to the result of following the teacher. This sentence not only plays an important role, but also covers the whole text and summarizes the content and scope to be discussed, which has become the central argument of this paper.

Ancient scholars must have teachers. Teacher, so preach and teach to solve doubts. People are not born knowing, who can have no doubt? If you are confused and don't follow the teacher, you will be confused and you will never understand.

Before I was born, I studied Tao before I was born, so I learned from Tao. After I was born, I studied Taoism first, so I studied Taoism. I am a teacher, and I don't know that years were born in me. Therefore, there is no nobility, no inferiority, no length, no shortage, and the existence of Tao and the existence of teachers.

People who studied in ancient times must have teachers. Teachers can impart truth, teach research and answer difficult questions. People are not born to understand reason, who can have no doubts? Doubt, not following the teacher, those who become problems, are ultimately incomprehensible.

Born in front of me, he understood the truth earlier than me, so I (should) follow (him) and regard him as a teacher; Born behind me, (if) he knows the truth before me, I (should) follow (him) as a teacher. I am learning from him. Who cares if he was born earlier or later than me? Therefore, regardless of status and age, the place where truth exists is the place where teachers exist.

Extended data:

Creation background

According to Fang Chengxuan's Chronology of Mr. Changli's Poems, this article was written in the 18th year of Zhenyuan in Tang Dezong (802). This year, Han Yu was 35 years old and worked as a doctor in four schools in imperial academy. His position is not high, but he has gained fame in the literary world, and the "ancient prose movement" he advocated has also begun.

Shi Shuo is a famous work by Han Yu. According to Fang Chengxuan's Chronology of Mr. Changli's Poems, this article was written in the 18th year of Zhenyuan in Tang Dezong (802). This year, Han Yu was 35 years old and was appointed as a doctor of imperial academy No.4 University. He is a scholar with a very low status, but he has already enjoyed a good reputation in the literary world.

In the literati class at that time, it was common to learn that "humbleness means shame, and official position means contempt" (it is shameful to learn from people with low status, and it is almost flattering to learn from people with high status. ) psychology. Han Yu opposed this erroneous idea and put forward that Tao is a teacher and fast, which is of progressive significance.

For the shame of learning from teachers, the article uses three comparisons in succession. First, comparing ancient and modern times, it is clear that shame on teachers is contrary to the way of saints, and the consequence can only be more ignorance.

Second, the same person realized the necessity of choosing teachers and teaching children, but did not realize the necessity of learning from teachers. By comparing these two completely contradictory practices, we can attack the shield with the spear of the child and reveal that those people are really confused and unreasonable.

Thirdly, the comparison between witch doctors, musicians, skilled workers and the families of literati further reveals the wrong psychology of literati, and points out the contrast between their status and intelligence, which is even more sobering.

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