Chapter 70 Talking about Talent and Suitability and Analyzing Tao Qian's Simplicity and Straightforwardness

Tao Yuanming has a lofty status in the history of Chinese literature.The nature and works of this idyllic poet are consistent with the outside and the inside, expressing simplicity and frankness, establishing an immortal literati style, and being admired by the world. Su Dongpo praised Mr. Jingjie and said: If you want to be an official, you should be an official, and you don't want to be suspicious.If you want to hide, you should hide, and don't think it is high to go.If you are hungry, you will knock on the door and beg for food; if you are full, you will beg for food.Ancient and modern sages value their truth.

This is the best portrayal of Tao Yuanming's true temperament.In his words and deeds throughout his life, he never made hypocrisy to deceive himself and others.In his poems and essays, he never hides that he is poor, and he can live in peace and happiness.When he was unbearably hungry, he knocked on the door of his neighbors to beg for food, and recorded it in his poems unabashedly, just like Confucius, he did not deny that he had been hungry and suffered hardships.He is neither envious of vanity nor ashamed of hunger and cold. Tao Qian's retreat to the countryside is by no means a gesture, but a real renunciation and return to innocence. He leads his wife and children to work in the fields together to support himself.A gentleman is always poor, and begs for food when he is hungry, but when he has a surplus of food to feed and clothe him, he is happy to extend his customers with chicken and millet.He loves wine and treats friends with the same sincerity. When he is drunk, he will go back to his room and lie down, and let the guests take care of themselves, and try to enjoy himself.Therefore, all the people who have been in contact with Tao Qian, no matter high-ranking officials or ordinary people, feel unrestrained and open-minded in the same way.

Since ancient times, it has been very common for literati to become officials, and even studying and being an official are two in one.Tao Yuanming was also an official, but after Liu Yu usurped the Jin Dynasty and the Jin family changed to the Song Dynasty, he stopped serving as an official. This shows his consistent spirit of loyalty to the Jin family. The most well-known story about Tao Qian's frank behavior of being an official if he wants to be an official and hiding if he wants to hide is that he once served as the magistrate of Pengze County.But less than three months after he took office, he hung up his crown and begged to leave, and wrote an article "Return to the Return", which has been passed down through the ages.Some people think that Tao Qian was too arrogant and arrogant, and resigned because he didn't have the skills to cultivate patience.This statement is really narrow-minded, and it fails to agree with his frankness and deeds.Tao Qian's advances and retreats throughout his life are all about seeking his talent and aptitude, and he wants to live a life of his duty, which is the so-called "one can be strong without desires". He never forces himself to be in an environment that he cannot adapt to.He always follows nature, advances when he can, retreats when he should, and has nothing to worry about, so he never has a cynical mentality.This can all be seen from his poems and essays. If he hadn't been calm and self-seeking for adaptability, even if he resigned from Peng Zeling, he would never be able to write such a touching "Return to the Home" to express his heartfelt voice.This is completely different from the act of walking away in a moment of unhappiness.Therefore, Su Shi said that he did not take it as a high priority.

Tao Qian has never had the heart to seek fame. For example, Wang Hong, the governor, visited him because of his admiration, but Tao Qian said he was sick and disappeared.On the surface, it seems that he is too arrogant. In fact, Tao Qian once explained to people: I am not a man of nature, and I keep my leisure due to illness.The husband misunderstood that he was not virtuous, and this Liu Gonggan's reason for slandering a gentleman is not a small crime.It can be seen from this that Tao Qian's behavior is both humble and unique! We cannot see Tao Yuanming's frankness and inappropriateness from today's secular perspective; nor can we use the so-called values ​​of modern people to judge whether his advances and retreats are wise or not; let alone think that he is ignorant of current affairs.If people in the world can be as self-aware as he is, and advance and retreat on their personal origins, but only seek talent and suitability, then the unhealthy phenomena of shaming and cadavers in today's society will be reduced a lot.

Because Tao Qian was indifferent to fame, fortune and wealth all his life, and contented himself with the poor life of a hermit, it seemed to be close to Lao Zhuang's thought, so some people in later generations regarded him as Taoism.In fact, in terms of basic thinking, he is a disciple of Confucian sages and philosophies, advocating Confucianism, loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness, and loving the Six Classics. He is an out-and-out Confucian believer.It may be more appropriate to say that he is Confucianism on the inside and Taoism on the outside.This can be seen in the words in his "Sensor Buyu Fu" that he expressed loyalty and filial piety to the monarch and relatives, and gave birth to faith and righteousness in the countryside.And in the poem "Ode to the Poor", there is a sentence that says that the dynasty and benevolence and righteousness live, and that death can be found in the evening.When he is in a chaotic world and he can't take care of the world at the same time, why can't he take care of himself alone?Moreover, because of his clear demeanor and integrity, he seems to be passive and reclusive, but in fact he has a subtle effect on the hearts of the world.

Tao Qian said in his poem "Drinking Wine": "Young people are rare in human affairs, and they are good at the Six Classics."It can be seen that it is deeply rooted in Confucianism of Confucius, Mencius and Confucianism.And in the poem "The Beginning of Guimao", it is also said: "The teacher has a legacy, worry about the road and not about poverty."It shows that he respects the sacred heart of Confucianism.Therefore, Shen Deqian from the Qing Dynasty commented: In the poems of the Jin Dynasty, the broad-minded ones quote Lao Zhuang, the complicated ones quote Bunyan, and Tao Gong uses the Analects.Below the Han people, before Song Confucianism, those who can push the disciples of the holy sect are Yuan Ming.

Looking at Yuanming's "Song of the Poor" poem, there is a saying in the seven poems: "The year is sad and the clouds are twilight, and the brown and exposed front porch is exposed."There is nothing left in the south garden, and the dry strips fill the north garden.Tilt the pot to get rid of the remaining grains, but you can't see the smoke when you peek into the stove.Poems and books are stuffed outside the seat, and there is no need to study them every day.It is not Chen E who lives at home, but he is stunned and sees words.How to comfort my bosom, Lai Gu Duo this sage.This not only shows the poverty of his secluded life, but also comforts himself with the peace and happiness of the sages.This Lai Gu Duo sage, that is, what Confucius said is that a scholar is committed to the Tao, but ashamed of those who are poorly dressed and poorly fed, which is not enough to discuss.Confucius praised his disciple Yan Hui, who lived in a back alley, was unbearable to worry about, and would not change his joy when he returned, he is a good man.That is, the sage in Yuanming's mind.Confucius himself was once trapped between Chen and Cai, without food for seven days without worrying about his way.It is said that a gentleman is always poor, and a villain is too poor.But Yuan Mingqiong is not indiscriminate, that is, he admires Confucius' spiritual will of solid poverty.We look at Yuanming from this, is it Taoism or Confucianism?

If it is said that it is shameful and unprogressive to measure the poor by modern social value standards.And if it turns into a phenomenon of laughing at the poor but not laughing at prostitutes and laughing at the poor but not laughing at robbers, what can I say, which one is shameful?If people's hearts are corrupted by pleasure, and they pursue fame and wealth too much, not to mention self-cultivation, and even form a wind of coercion and plunder, what good is it?If you only emphasize fame and status, but don't ask whether it is suitable for talent or suitability, and don't distinguish between loyalty and treachery, it is actually even worse!