Chapter 1305: The Sage Temple of the Confucian School! (2/2)
”Young Master, we've arrived!”
A Confucian Sect disciple got down and opened the carriage door. Li Junxian raised his robe and emerged, and the moment he touched down, the clear fragrance of plum trees wafted into his nose.
”It's been a long time since my last visit!”
Li Junxian took in a deep breath, his heart filled with emotion as he took in these familiar sights.
Li Junxian glanced at the enormous hall. There was no placard above the hall's entrance, but ten-some paces away from the entrance, a stone stele had been placed. Several large words had been written on this stele in cinnabar.
'Leader of All Confucians'!
Below this was a seal, and then the words 'Acceding to the Will of the Heavens'!
It was clear from the mottling on the stone stele that it had been here for a very long time.
Gaozong's imperial seal!
This thought flashed through Li Junxian's mind as he gazed at the stele.
Other than the 'Supreme Sage' and the 'Second Sage Mencius', Emperors would rarely officially commend people of the Confucian Sect, and the title 'Leader of All Confucians' was something that no one could bear. The Golden Guards standing guard and the seal of Gaozong were enough to show that the person living within this golden palace was not just anybody.
Countless thoughts passed through Li Junxian's mind as he gazed at the hall. Few civilians knew about this plum forest and the hall within it, but all the illustrious and learned Confucians held this place with utmost regard.
This was the Sage Temple of the Confucian school!
This was because the person who lived within—or one could say 'the person consecrated within'—was the spiritual leader of the Confucian school.
”If the sovereign is benevolent, the entire country will act benevolently. If the sovereign is righteous, the entire country will act righteously. If the sovereign is honest and upright, the entire country will be honest and upright!”
”When a ruler rejoices in the joy of his people, the people rejoice in his joy. When the ruler grieves at the sorrow of his people, the people grieve at his sorrows.”
”For a country, the people are of utmost importance, the gods of the land of secondary importance, and the sovereign of least importance. Thus, those who obtain the support of people become the Son of Heaven, those who obtain the Son of Heaven's favor become a King, and those who obtain the favor of a King become ministers…”
(TN: These are snippets from various parts of the Confucian classic, the 'Mencius'. The first saying is from 'Li Lou I', the second is from 'Liang Hui Wang II', and the third is from 'Jin Xin II'. Mencius was the second great philosopher of Confucianism after Confucius himself and espoused the innate goodness of human nature.)
Li Junxian could hear the sounds of recitation coming from the Sage Temple, but unlike in normal schools, these were extremely old voices, rather than childish ones. These men were in their eighties or nineties, all of them esteemed Confucians from fifty or sixty years ago.
A few moments later, a white-haired old Confucian wearing a gray-white robe stepped out from the hall. ”Young Master, Master Zhu knows that you are here and has requested you to enter.”
If a scholar were here, they would undoubtedly be stunned by the sight of this Confucian. This Confucian was renowned throughout the Huxiang region, and some twenty years ago, his book 'On Confucianism' had been published throughout the world and used as a guide by many members of the Confucian school.
It was rumored that he had died long ago. No one knew that he had entered this Sage Temple, where he had followed that person for ten-some years.
”Many thanks!”
Li Junxian respectfully bowed, then he raised his robes and stepped into the hall.
There were no Golden Guards or Imperial Guards in the hall. Incense burners had been placed on the sides, giving off musky aromas. In front of these incense burners which were shaped like dragons, tigers, or cranes, venerable Confucians of fifty years and above had seated themselves cross-legged. They were either copying out manuscripts or had their eyes closed as if contemplating theories.
These people were so focused on their tasks that they didn't even glance at Li Junxian, and Li Junxian did not mind. He passed by these people and headed farther inside.
The sounds of recitation grew louder and louder, and as he entered the back of the palace, Li Junxian saw a stone courtyard and a very simple but well-kept thatched hall. For such a crude and simple building to be standing behind such an opulent palace was truly difficult to believe unless one had seen it with their own eyes.
Though it was simple and crude, this thatched hall exuded a transcendent, clear, pure, and divine aura. Rather than being an eyesore next to the opulent hall, it made the grand palace seem insignificant. This thatched hall seemed to stick out like a sore thumb amidst the plum and bamboo.
Although it was rather strange, Li Junxian had long ago gotten used to it.
Various illustrious and learned Confucians passed through the stone courtyard, either entering or leaving the thatched hall. Li Junxian also quickly made his way over. At the entrance to the thatched hall, old and erudite Confucians were kneeling on the ground, sitting in rows like disciples as they put their minds into studying.
Their attitudes were so respectful that they seemed like youths who knew nothing and were learning from an erudite teacher.
At any other place in the Nine Provinces, these venerable Confucians would have been regarded with utmost respect. At their level of learning, they no longer needed to study with someone, nor was there anything that anyone could teach them. But at this thatched hall, they were all like children seeking guidance. And rather than feeling ashamed, these people seemed to feel like this was a great honor, that there was no greater glory than studying at this place.
Everyone appeared to feel like staying here to study was an opportunity that had to be dearly cherished.