Chapter 458: Witnessing Confucius’ Handwritten Notes!
Confucius, who exactly is he?
He’s none other than the founder of the Confucian School!
The esteemed Sage and the revered Master of Confucian teachings!
A figure who has influenced Chinese culture for thousands of years!
The original manuscripts he authored are more valuable to the Confucian disciples than their own lives.
So it’s no wonder that Master Xun repeatedly advised Fu Nian, reminding him of this!
Despite his eccentricity and extreme nature, he would never take Confucius lightly.
On the contrary, he holds the Confucian founder in the highest regard.
Master Xun views a great Confucian as the pinnacle of the Confucian ideal—
Possessing both strong political skills and a profoundly high moral standing.
In his work Xunzi, he claims that a great Confucian is one who excels in both “external kingship” and “internal sanctity.”
Such a person is capable of “governing the world effectively” and serves the emperor’s council.
And Confucius is precisely that noble Confucian sage.
Had someone suggested looking at Confucius’ original records, Master Xun would have certainly cursed them to high heaven.
He wouldn’t even give them a glance himself; why would he show them to anyone else?
What if they messed up the bamboo slips, smudging the text?
But alas, Li Mo was dead set on seeing them.
He gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, and instructed Fu Nian to bring over the entire box.
Before long, a wooden box about four to five feet tall was carried in by several disciples, working together in harmony.
The box was tightly wrapped in chains, secured with seven or eight locks.
“This…”
Li Mo pointed at the locks.
Is this really necessary?
Master Xun’s dark old face unexpectedly turned a shade of red as he fished out a hefty bunch of keys from his sleeve with a clink-clink.
Waving the disciples away, he declared, “Old man will open it for you.”
One lock, two locks, three locks…
Each lock was opened one by one until only the lid remained.
Hiss~ “I can show you, but it can’t just sit on the floor. You must promise me, young sir, to handle it gently!”
Master Xun pressed his hand on the box lid and turned back to negotiate with Li Mo.
Li Mo assured him, “Alright, I promise to look carefully. Is that good enough?”
Having a sacred text written by Confucius resting on the ground was indeed a big deal.
Plus, getting an up-close look at Confucius’ work was a fortuitous opportunity!
Looking at the size of the box, there shouldn’t be too much inside.
It wouldn’t take long.
“That’s good.”
Hearing that, Master Xun finally felt relieved.
In front of all the Confucian disciples, he slowly opened the box lid.
Confucius is seen as the most sacred figure in the hearts of all Confucian disciples.
And his handwritten treasures are not something just anyone can see.
If it weren’t for Li Mo, they’d never get this chance today!
Now, everyone was wide-eyed, eager to catch a glimpse of the sacred text!
As the lid finally opened, the top was lined with exquisite silk cloth. Master Xun lifted the silk cover.
What they saw… was more silk cloth.
After peeling back five layers, they finally uncovered bundles of bamboo slips wrapped neatly in satin.
“(adca) Sir, please.”
Master Xun carefully held a bundle and presented it to Li Mo.
“Thank you.”
Li Mo sincerely expressed his gratitude and cautiously accepted the bundle.
The numerous locks and layers of silk within the box revealed how much esteem Master Xun held for these bamboo slips, and how precious they were.
Now that he was willing to show them to Li Mo, it was a tremendous honor!
Even Ying Zheng might not get to see them this easily!
Having traveled across the states for fourteen years with his disciples, Confucius compiled the Six Classics, namely The Book of Songs, The Book of Documents, The Book of Rites, The Book of Music, The Book of Changes, and The Spring and Autumn Annals.
After his passing, his disciples and the subsequent generations spent decades documenting Confucius and his disciples’ sayings and philosophies.
They compiled it all into The Analects, which has also been revered as a Confucian classic and passed down for thousands of years!
In his hands, Li Mo held the Book of Songs, one of the Six Classics.
Sitting down at a low table, he gently unwrapped the satin enveloping the bamboo slips, while Master Xun reached out to assist beside him.
Unbeknownst to them, a crowd of observing Confucian disciples had already gathered behind, curiously stretching their necks like a line of geese.
Li Mo slowly opened the bamboo slips, revealing the hand-carved characters by Confucius.
The first line read: The Book of Songs has three hundred pieces, summed up in one phrase: “thoughts without evil.”
The second line expressed: “Reciting the three hundred pieces and imparting them in governance is insufficient; deploying them across the four corners yields no focus. Even with many, what of it?”
This meant that although this Book of Songs contains over three hundred poems, they can be summed up in just three words: “thoughts without evil.”
This serves as a warning to future generations—to conduct oneself free of malicious intent and to maintain purity of thought.
One must be upright, sit straight, and act without guilt; harbor no selfish, wicked thoughts.
The characters on the bamboo slips are meticulously carved, each stroke as straight as the teachings themselves!
Though the content mirrors the copied versions, these vigorous characters seem capable of judging the hearts of men!
Li Mo was instantly captivated at just a glance!
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