Fang Yun's actions were opposed by the officials of the Academy of Arts. Many of them believed that Fang Yun had no right to decide which book to promote in the Academy. It was up to the Minister of Arts or the Grand Secretary of the Academy to decide.
That was because the books taught in the Academy, other than the Classics of the Sages which were compulsory, the other books were decided by the Academy of Arts.
The 24 Filial Piety had different versions in each country because they all had to promote the famous people of their own country and not people of other countries.
For example, in the 24 Filial Piety in Jingguo, there was no such thing as burying a child and honoring his mother. That was because Guo Ju's later official position was in Gyeongo. There were also different versions of the 24 Filial Piety in Gyeongo. The Xiangzhou version had this story.
When he was the Governor of the two states, Fang Yun removed the story of burying a child and honoring his mother from the Xiangzhou version of the 24 Filial Piety. But this time, when he adapted the 24 Filial Piety into the 24 Filial Piety Illustration, he added this story.
Back then, even the Gyeongo Academy of Arts was afraid of causing controversy and allowed each state to decide on whether to include burying a child and honoring his mother. Fang Yun insisted on adapting it and even wanted to promote it throughout the country. This caused the controversy to intensify.
Very quickly, some officials remembered that Fang Yun removed the story of burying a child and honoring his mother from the Xiangzhou version of the 24 Filial Piety Illustration. They felt that Fang Yun's actions were strange and seemed to have other intentions. Thus, these officials remained silent on this matter.
Because the influence of this matter was too great, the Minister requested for another court meeting to be held the next day.
Fang Yun seemed to have no idea how big of a commotion he had caused. On the second day, he went to court as usual. But from the moment he appeared outside the palace, he became the focus of attention.
Even the guards who usually didn't move turned their eyes to look at Fang Yun.
The other officials looked at Fang Yun and did not dare to ask. Some officials asked questions, but Fang Yun did not answer.
This was because in the carriage of Wu Hou, Fang Yun's left side was Hu Li and his right side was a pure white lamb.
There were drums, music, dances, and other complicated rituals in the imperial court. However, there were not so many trivial matters in an ordinary imperial court. After the officials and the monarch returned to their positions, the imperial court began.
This time, Jing Jun didn't get down to business. Instead, he asked, "Official Fang, why did you bring Little Lamb to the palace?"
Fang Yun smiled and said, "According to the 'Book of Rites', people of different levels bring different greeting gifts. For example, the Emperor's greeting gift should be wine used for sacrificial ceremonies. The Marquis' greeting gift is a jade tablet. High officials use lambs, ordinary doctors use geese, scholars use pheasants, and ordinary people use ducks. This official is not the Son of Heaven, nor is he a feudal vassal. Therefore, as a minister delivering a gift to Jun Shang, naturally I should use a lamb. Hu Li, present the lamb. "
Fang Yun sat motionlessly on Wu Hou's carriage while Hu Li brought the trembling little lamb forward and handed it to the eunuch. The eunuch put it away and sent it to the side chamber.
That Assistant Minister Yang Xuwen said, "Today we are supposed to discuss the 'Twenty-four Filial Piety', but Prime Minister Fang seems to have another intention by sending Jun Shang a lamb?"
Fang Yun nodded and said, "This Prime Minister announces that this thirteenth gift is a restricted gift. Jingguo's officialdom has a strong tradition of giving gifts. In order to reduce waste, according to the 'Book of Rites', first rank and second rank officials can only give lambs. Third rank to seventh rank officials can only give wild geese. However, wild geese are hard to find nowadays, so white geese are used instead. For officials below seventh rank, their gifts are treated like pheasants. "
Yang Xuwen stared blankly for quite a while. Unexpectedly, he didn't know how to respond.
A large number of officials also stared blankly at Fang Yun. They couldn't understand Fang Yun's thirteenth gift.
This kind of ancient ceremony was only recorded in history books. Even during the Spring and Autumn Period, there weren't many people who followed it. Yet, it was forcefully followed by modern people. It was far more absurd than the 'Hundred Li Carrying Rice'.
At the very least, the 'Hundred Li Carrying Rice' was under the banner of filial piety. If they really wanted to limit the value of the gift, they could just give a price. What was going on?
"Ridiculous!" Sheng Boyuan, the Minister of Rites, criticized Fang Yun in public.
Fang Yun asked in surprise, "Minister Sheng, haven't you read the 'Book of Rites'? That's the book of the saints. Everyone must learn it. Are you criticizing Notre-Dame and all the saints of the past? "
Sheng Boyuan said, "Lord Fang, that's not right. Although the 'Book of Rites' has records, it doesn't say that only this can be given as a gift. Didn't Lu Zhaogong give Kong Sheng a carp back then? If it's against etiquette for a duke to give a carp, why did Kong Sheng name the second-generation heir Kong Li? There were also Yang goods who gave a suckling pig to Kong Sheng. If it's against etiquette, why would Kong Sheng thank them? "
Fang Yun smiled and said, "Indeed, the 'Book of Rites' doesn't specify what can be given as a gift. However, the 'Book of Rites' also says that when the country is in trouble, we should reduce waste. I issued this gift in order to avoid waste. Therefore, according to the 'Book of Rites', I have set a list of gifts for officials in the future. When Jingguo is strong and there are no internal and external troubles, this gift can naturally be removed. "
Sheng Boyuan knew that he couldn't argue with Fang Yun, so he suddenly said, "I will hold a banquet at home today. If there are officials who come, I will definitely follow Fang Xusheng's instructions and send them sheep, geese, and pheasants. I will open up a new place in my humble house to raise these animals and eat them slowly. "
"I will bring a white goose to your house today."
"I can only bring a pheasant."
"I want to learn from Fang Xusheng and bring a lamb to your house."
The officials who opposed Fang Yun all teased him with animals.
Fang Yun only snorted coldly and didn't care about them.
After that, everyone discussed the implementation of the '24 Filial Piety Illustration'. Even many officials who originally supported Fang Yun were silent on this matter.
In the end, the implementation of the '24 Filial Piety Illustration' was put on hold.
After the court session, there were indeed officials who brought lambs, geese, and pheasants as gifts. Moreover, these officials specially wore court uniforms and walked to Sheng Boyuan. This caused the news to spread quickly everywhere.
That night, there were people from Gyeongo who mocked him on the ranking list. They said that Jingguo had a minister who carried sheep and a great scholar who carried geese. It became the most famous joke on the day of the ranking list.
Some scholars felt that something was wrong and sincerely advised Fang Yun on the ranking list. Some etiquettes could be retro, but some were not.
However, Fang Yun didn't seem to care about all the objections.
Soon, Fang Yun announced the fourteenth gift.
When the fourteenth gift was announced, some officials criticized Fang Yun in public and were filled with righteous indignation.
After the fourteenth gift was announced on the ranking list, many scholars were a little confused.
The fourteenth gift also came from the 'Book of Rites'. It required officials to wear jade on official occasions according to the records in the 'Book of Rites'. Moreover, the jade on the right should emit the sound of 'Xiao Jiao Jiao Yu'. The jade on the left should emit the sound of 'Gong Yu'.
When the officials walked with small steps, the rhythm of the jade should correspond to the 'Cai Qi'. When they walked normally, the rhythm of the jade should correspond to the 'Si Xia'.
When the officials turned back, they shouldn't immediately turn their heads. Instead, they should walk in a semicircle. When they turned right, they should walk at a standard right angle.
This so-called ancient gift was rarely implemented in ancient times. It was just an ideal situation. Not to mention ordinary officials, even Confucius, who was extremely respectful back then, could not always be like this.
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