Liu Zhe
I have read many books and articles introducing Confucius. They all said that Confucius was "the first person in Chinese history to establish a private school" and "Confucius was the breakthrough "The first person to start a 'private school'", "the first private school teacher in China", etc., I cannot agree with these statements. I believe that Liu Xiahui, who was highly praised by Confucius and Mencius, was the first person to establish a private school in China so far recorded in writing. At least he was a pioneer in establishing a private school in China a hundred or two hundred years before Confucius and Mencius.
Confucius is a great thinker and educator in the late Spring and Autumn Period of our country. He is the master of Confucianism and is universally recognized. Regarding the statement that "Confucius was the first person to establish a private school in China", I only became suspicious after studying a large number of relevant documents about our ancestor Liu Xiahui that were discovered in recent years. Based on the principle of seeking truth from facts, I compiled the relevant information I found for reference by the academic community.
Liu Xiahui, a senior official in the Lu Kingdom, once served as a scholar. His surname was Zhan, his given name was Huo, and his courtesy name was Qin, and also his courtesy name was Ji. He gathered food under the willow trees. After his death, his wife was given the posthumous title of "Hui", hence his name. Liu Xiahui.
Liu Xiahui was a famous historical figure in the Spring and Autumn Period of our country. Both the "Sage" Confucius and the "Less Sage" Mencius highly praised him. Confucius praised Liu Xiahui for being "filial, courteous and benevolent, being virtuous and committed to justice, making appointments for goods without complaining, and frivolously taking possessions without depriving them of money." "("Confucius' Family Sayings: The Wise King"), Mencius called Liu Xiahui a "sage" who could be the "teacher of a hundred generations": "Those who hear Liu Xiahui's style are Bo Fu Dun, despicable Fu Kuan, and strive for a hundred generations. , whoever hears it in a hundred generations will be inspired. "("Mencius·Jin Xin Xia") Mencius also called Liu Xiahui, Boyi, Yi Yin, and Confucius the four great saints, and "Liuxia Hui is the sum of saints. "("Mencius·Wan Zhang 2") This is the reason why Liu Xiahui was revered as "Hesheng" by later generations.
The "Zhan Family Genealogy" preserved by Liu Xiahui's descendants in Pingyin, Laiwu and other places in Shandong " (18th year of Guangxu, 5th year of the Republic of China) and information provided by Liu Xiahui's descendants Liu Mingrui and others found that Liu Xiahui once founded a private school, taught and educated people, and wrote books, which had a profound influence during the Republic of China. "Taishan Series" compiled by Wang Jifan and Wang Hengyu, "He Sheng Chronicle Chronicles" compiled by Ding Ji and "Zhan Family Genealogy: Chronicle of the Holy Ancestor" record the contents of Liu Xiahui's education: "Fifty-four years old, "At the age of sixty-four, the number of disciples of education in Lu is increasing day by day"; "At the age of eighty-five, I eat under the willows in the city and plant willow trees widely"; "At the age of ninety, I am a traveler, surpassing the crowd, carrying a bamboo basket and a bamboo basket More than a hundred people came. "
"The Genealogy of the Zhan Family: Lineage" records: Liu Xiahui was "buried in Guzhao Village". "The Genealogy of the Zhan Family: Epitaph": "In the northeast of Xiaqiu, there is a person named Guzhao. The springs are sweet, the soil is fertile, and the people are honest and customary. Hesheng and his disciples tried to visit here, and the disciples said: "I will be buried here when I die." ’ When he died, he was buried because he asked Duke Wen to predict his death. His disciple Shi Zhongliang and others built his tomb, which was more than ten feet high and ninety feet wide, with three levels. "In addition, the "Epitaphal" of the Zhan family is preserved in "Yanshenggong Mansion" in Qufu, which is the same as the record in the "Zhan Family Genealogy".
In the Spring and Autumn Period, the Lu State had Xiaqiu Yi, and the Qin Dynasty established it as a county, which governs Yanzhou, Shandong Province today. Northeast of the city. In the 3rd year of Yuanfeng in the Western Han Dynasty, it was changed to a county. After the Western Jin Dynasty was abolished, it was restored in the Sui Dynasty and moved to the present Yanzhou City. According to the "Zhan Family Genealogy", the current name is unknown. According to the location analysis of Guzhao Village, it seems to be Gaomiao Village in the northwest of present-day Yanzhou City. According to the Ziyang County Chronicle of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, "Liu Xiahui's Tomb: Jinxian Society, Bali, west of the city. The tomb is more than ten feet high and the tomb is ninety feet wide. It has three levels and was built by the disciples. When the Yan people attacked Qi, they passed by this road and issued an order: "Anyone who is close to Liu Xia Ji Long and is gathering firewood at a hundred paces will not be spared his death!" ’ That’s why the ‘Mr. Liu Temple’ was built on the tomb, as the disciples called it. The temple structure is towering and green, and is commonly called "high temple". "It was named after the village."
According to the above written records, Liu Xiahui once visited Guzhao Village with his disciples. He took a fancy to this geomantic treasure land during his lifetime, so he said to his disciples: "I will be buried here after I die." After Liu Xiahui's death, his relatives reported it to the king of Lu, Duke Wen of Lu, and with his approval, his wish came true. He was buried in Guzhao Village. His tomb was also built by his disciple Shi Zhongliang and others. It is "more than ten feet high, ninety feet wide, and has three levels."
According to records, Liu Xiahui "education disciple in Lu" after resigning from the Lu Shi division, it seems that he should be a disciple of folk education, especially after Liu Xiahui moved to Liuxia when he was 85 years old, because of his high moral character and high prestige, he became a disciple of Lu More and more. When I was 90 years old, there were hundreds of people who formally came to study. The scale of education can reach more than a hundred people, which is already spectacular in the history of ancient education. This also created a historical miracle of still engaging in private education after the age of 90. Liu Xiahui lived to be a hundred years old and had countless disciples. So far, Shi Zhongliang is one of the well-documented and named Liuxiahui clan members, except for his son Zhanxi and others. I think Liu Xiahui founded a private school, which reached its peak in his later years and influenced later generations. Liu Xiahui's academic and educational thoughts also deeply influenced Confucius and Mencius, who was born one or two hundred years later than him. This is strongly confirmed in the writings of Confucius and Mencius.
According to "Han Feizi Xian Xue": "Since the death of Confucius, there have been Confucians of the Zi Zhang family, Confucians of the Zi Si family, Confucians of the Yan family, Meng family of Confucianism, and Qidiao family of Confucianism. Among the Confucians, there are Confucians of the Zhongliang family, Confucians of the Sun family, and Confucians of the Lezheng family. "Jin Tao Qian's "Collection of Sages and Sages" records: "Eight Confucians: After the two sons died, they scattered all over the world and were established in China. , became the origin of hundreds of families... The Qidiao family passed down "Li" as Tao, and became a Confucian who was respectful, thrifty, and respectful; the Zhongliang (Liang) family passed down "Yue" as Tao, harmonizing Yin and Yang, and became a Confucian who changed customs."
Could it be that the "Confucianism of the Zhongliang family" mentioned here is the Zhongliang school of thought founded by Shi Zhongliang, a member of Liuxiahui's family? If so, it shows the influence of Liu Xiahui's moral scholarship on later generations.
Liu Xiahui was not as lucky as Laozi, Confucius, Mencius and other sages, leaving behind complete works for future generations. According to the "Zhan Family Genealogy", Liu Xiahui did not write books during his lifetime. However, a large number of his works were "burned" because of "the harsh rule of Qin". It is really regrettable! The "Zhan Family Genealogy" compiled by Zhanmai, the 8th generation of Liu Xiahui, has this record about Zhanfu, the 15th generation of Liu Xiahui: "The family's collection of ancestral slips and scrolls was burned by Qin's harsh rule, and they cried all day long." As a descendant, How can we not sigh with regret? ! Uncover the eternal mystery of the lost works of Liu Xiahui.
During the lifetime of Confucius and Mencius, the family biographies of Liu Xiahui’s descendants were not destroyed. As Confucius and Mencius were erudite people, they naturally had the opportunity to come and read them, and their writings were naturally deeply influenced by them.
"Zhan Family Genealogy" contains a picture of "Liuxia Shutang in Shiyi", which also shows that Liu Xiahui founded "Liuxia Shutang" in Shiyi in his later years, which is an indisputable fact.
Liuxia Hui was highly respected for his virtue and virtue, so he was highly praised by sages and monarchs of all ages. According to the records of "Zhan Family Genealogy" and "Temple Chronicles": "In the 30th year of King Nan of Zhou Dynasty, the Qin people invaded Qi. I admired and admired the sacred tomb of Taoist scriptures deeply. I stayed there, as if I were facing the spring breeze, and looked at it with sternness. If the teacher protects him, he will still be in a trance. As a result, his love becomes deeper and his intention to protect him becomes more intense. He orders: "Anyone who dares to go near the willow trees and pick wood will not be spared." He will be killed on the tomb! The dream image of the temple was built in it, and he was called "Mr. Liu Xia". This was the beginning of the construction of the tomb temple." , Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, local officials, local sages and descendants all strictly protected it and raised funds from time to time to rebuild it, so that it could stand majestically and continue to offer sacrifices. When Emperor Kangxi was on a tour, he once passed by Liu Xia to enjoy the cool air and wrote a couplet: "I can't stand the wind under Liu Xia Hui while enjoying the cool air under Liu Xia." This shows Emperor Kangxi's admiration for Liu Xia Hui.
Unfortunately, the Holy Tomb was destroyed in modern times and is now gone. But Liu Xiahui’s moral scholarship and high integrity, including his great achievements in establishing private schools, teaching and educating people, will forever be recorded in the annals of history, and his contributions will last forever!