"Today, we will use the method of a famous scholar to debate what filial piety is!" Meton said solemnly to the civil officials.
Kong Yingda was naturally familiar with the method of a famous scholar. Ever since Meton brought this method to the Imperial College, it had become extremely popular among the students.
"The more you debate, the clearer it becomes! The Tang dynasty ruled the country with filial piety. I would also like to hear the understanding of the Confucian and Mohist schools on filial piety. "Li Shimin laughed. Although he seemed to be fair, he was actually giving Meton a chance to defend himself.
Kong Yingda coldly snorted, "What is filial piety?! Filial piety is the foundation of virtue! The word filial piety refers to the elderly and the children. To be able to take care of two relatives and follow their wishes is extremely filial! "
"Chancellor Kong's words are reasonable. Confucius says filial piety is when one enters, and fraternal relations is when one leaves. He loves the masses. As for kinship, if one has the strength to spare, one should study literature. Filial piety is the foundation of the country and the foundation of our Chinese civilization. How can it be trampled on by others? We will definitely be indignant. "Quan Wanji coldly said.
… … …
The civil officials all agreed, and Meton immediately became the target of everyone's criticism.
"Alright, now it's the opposing side's turn to speak!" Li Shimin excitedly became the referee.
Only then did the civil officials stop and glare angrily at Meton.
Facing the pressure of the civil officials, Meton took a deep breath and said, "The Mohist school advocates love with impartiality and naturally advocates filial piety!"
"So the famous Mo Jiazi also knows how to say one thing and do another!" Kong Yingda coldly snorted.
Immediately, the entire hall burst into laughter. The civil officials who wanted to impeach Meton all looked at Meton with ridicule.
Meton said without the slightest hint of shame, "The tree wants to be still, but the wind doesn't stop. A child wants to be raised, but his parents are no longer around. My parents died early, and not being able to fulfill filial piety is one of my life's greatest regrets. However, in the dao of filial piety, it is the heart and not the form. Judging filial piety and unfilial piety based on one's hairstyle, I'm afraid it will be the world's joke."
Kong Yingda retorted, "His body, hair, and skin were all given to him by his parents. If he were to recklessly destroy his hair, he wouldn't even be able to perform this bit of filial piety. He would be impeached for serving his country!"
Meton looked at Kong Yingda seriously and said, "I would like to ask Teacher Kong if you have ever cut your hair or shave your beard. According to your theory, are you unfilial? I'm afraid everyone in the world is unfilial!"
The officials in the Imperial Court immediately felt embarrassed. Since ancient times, who could not cut their hair and beard?
Kong Yingda's breath suddenly stagnated. He braced himself and retorted, "The Old Man only cut his hair and didn't damage his hair ornaments. He wasn't like Merton who destroyed thousands of years of Chinese etiquette!"
Meton shook his head and said, "The ancient people had their hair. Firstly, they believed that hair was the continuation of life. Secondly, the ancient people lacked something to resist the cold. Hair was a rare thing to keep warm. After a long time of evolution, the hair ornament etiquette of Chinese civilization came into being. This has nothing to do with filial piety or unfilial piety! Nowadays, the medical school has already stated that hair and fingernails are the same. They are all external objects of the human body. Cutting them won't hurt or itch, and they are harmless to the human body. If not, it will be inconvenient for one's actions, and diseases will be rampant. I would like to ask Chancellor Kong if fingernails were given to you by your parents? Why can you cut them? Why can't you cut your hair?
Kong Yingda was immediately at a loss for words. The other officials also avoided his gaze. If a person didn't cut their fingernails, it would be extremely inconvenient. They wouldn't be able to lift their hands, and even eating would be difficult. Everyone was used to cutting their fingernails, and the officials had actually overlooked this fatal problem.
"Kong Sheng is the Sage Ancestor. His words are humble and righteous. It's especially not something that a brat like you can blaspheme." Quan Wanji saw that Kong Yingda was defeated and immediately supported him.
"Mencius said, 'If you believe in books, it's better to have no books at all!' I acknowledge the greatness of Kong Sheng. However, for the sake of rigid hair ornaments, he didn't care about the health of the common people. I believe that this isn't Kong Sheng's original intention. "Meton retorted.
Meton's words immediately made Li Shimin nod in his heart. As an emperor, what he pursued was a mixture of Confucianism on the outside and Confucianism on the inside. A mere sentence from the Confucian book of filial piety naturally couldn't be compared to the health of the common people.
"The book of filial piety is the foundation of my Tang dynasty's filial piety. It's also the holy scripture of my Confucian school! How can it be recklessly interpreted by Brother Mo Jiazi? "Kong Yingda was flustered and exasperated.
Meton solemnly said, "Parents don't dare to damage the body. This is the beginning of filial piety. Since that brat used this sentence to argue, then may I ask if Chancellor Kong's parents personally shave their son's hair to cure head lice? Or! If one's parents died early, then wouldn't cutting their hair be a violation of filial piety? "
Kong Yingda was instantly stunned, and cold sweat immediately flowed down his back.
Meton followed up with another attack, "Since Chancellor Kong can't answer, then this brat will answer for you. That's because the true connection between hair and filial piety was only after the book of filial piety appeared. Therefore, Chancellor Kong, what you're trying to protect isn't the thousands of years of tradition of hair ornaments in China, but the orthodoxy of your Kong Family's book of filial piety! Your standpoint has been skewed from the start! "
"You!" Kong Yingda only felt a mouthful of blood rushing up his throat. He thought that he was righteous, but Meton had mercilessly exposed his pretense and exposed his selfishness in the imperial court.
"Cutting hair is a barbarian's hair ornament. Because of you, Mo Jiazi, taking the lead, the common people of the world are rushing to be the first to follow. Our Chinese hair ornament civilization will be destroyed overnight. You, Meton, and the Mo Family will be China's greatest sinners!" Quan Wanji shouted.
Many civil officials immediately reignited their fighting spirit. No matter how many reasons Meton had, there was a fatal problem, and that was that cutting hair was a form of punishment in the Tang dynasty. It was a form of humiliation to people. Meton's actions had caused the common people of the world to follow suit, destroying thousands of years of tradition in China.
Meton retorted, "In the pre-Qin period, the people of Southern Yue cut their hair, while the people of the Central Plains grew their hair. In this brat's opinion, the biggest problem was that Southern Yue was hot all year round. Hair was the best thing to keep people warm, and Southern Yue didn't need it. That's why they cut their hair. This has nothing to do with etiquette, but it's just convenient. I'm afraid that in the eyes of the people of Southern Yue, it's more difficult for us Han people to grow our hair!"
To others, Meton's words were like playing the lute to a cow. However, to those who had been officials in the south, they had a deep understanding. The south was extremely hot, and during the long summer, long hair was probably the biggest burden.
This was especially true for Feng Zhidai. He agreed with Meton's point of view the most. When he was in Gaozhou, he directly cut his hair because the weather was too hot. It wasn't until he came to Chang 'an that he grew his hair out. However, every summer was the most difficult time for him.
Of course, at this moment, Feng Zhidai naturally wouldn't help Meton. Instead, he added insult to injury, "What nonsense! Nowadays, the people of the south are proud of growing their hair. This is the result of our Chinese etiquette and education. Merton's actions have caused the common people of the Central Plains to cut their hair and imitate the barbarians. In the future, when the south becomes unstable, you, Meton, will be the biggest sinner! "
Meton said without fear, "Confucius said, 'Choose those who are good and follow them, and change those who are not.' During the time of King Wuling of Zhao, I'm afraid that the people of the Barbarians were also opposed by the people of the Barbarians. The prosperity of our Chinese civilization has been based on the fact that we are inclusive and inclusive. We are not stuck in our own ways. "
Regarding the story of the Barbarians' riding and shooting, the officials in the imperial court were probably the most familiar with it. Back then, when the Zhao State was in decline, it was often defeated. King Wuling of Zhao had a broad mind and saw that the Barbarians had some special advantages in military clothing. They wore short jackets with narrow sleeves, which were more convenient for daily life, hunting, and fighting. When fighting, they used cavalry and bows, which were more flexible and flexible compared to the chariots and spears of the Central Plains.
Thus, he decided to imitate the Barbarians' clothing and fighting methods. In Handan City, King Wuling of Zhao proposed the idea of "wearing Barbarians' clothing" and "practicing riding and shooting". He was determined to take the advantages of the Barbarians to make up for the shortcomings of the Central Plains. However, in the process of reform, he encountered great obstacles. The officials refused to accept the Barbarians' clothing with the reason of "the way of the ancient times, the heart of the rebellious".
"The benefits of ancient and modern times are easy to use! This is what King Wuling of Zhao tried to persuade the Zhao people. Now that the Barbarians have been cured of head lice and the common people are healthy, the North and the South are easy to use! "Meton shouted.
Meton was quoting the classics, and Confucius and Meng Zhi were saying that they were easy to use. He was also quoting the classics, but he wasn't at a disadvantage in the slightest.
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