At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the wind of troubled times rolled up dust and obscured the sky. In this chaos, the fall of the Ming Dynasty was not only the change of a dynasty, but also the end of an era. Among the broken bricks and rubble, the cry of the remnants seems to have become the most real footnote of this era. Some of these remnants have seen through the smoke and clouds of history and the deeper reasons behind all this. Their words, like the stars in the night sky, illuminate the way of thinking for future generations.
And in a corner of that era, Wang Fuzhi used his sharp brushstrokes to paint a portrait of an era. In his words, there is not only criticism of **, but also deep thinking about the times. In his writing, the cause of the fall of the Ming Dynasty was no longer a simple political struggle or military defeat, but a deeper cultural and spiritual absence.
The stories and reflections of these survivors are like a window that opens up a whole new perspective for us. In their eyes, the fall of the Ming Dynasty was not a simple historical event, but a topic worthy of in-depth study. Their thinking on this topic is profound and unique, and it has left a valuable legacy for future generations.
The different choices of the sergeants under the calamity.
In the turbulent years at the turn of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the fate of scholars and doctors was like a fallen leaf in the wind, and they could not be autonomous. In the torrent of this era, they are faced with all kinds of difficult choices. The Gangnam region has always been a symbol of prosperity, and even in times of national turmoil, there are still some scholars who choose to continue to live in luxury, as if the turmoil in the outside world has nothing to do with them. In the depths of their courtyard, there are still singing and dancing, and the melodious sound of the piano.
However, under the same sky, another group of people chose a very different path. In the face of the Qing army's southward advance, they chose to hold on. Under the city walls, the soldiers clenched their weapons tightly, their eyes were firm, and although they knew that there was a turbulent battle ahead, their steps were still resolute. On the castle tower, the scholars held folding fans and looked at the beacon fire in the distance, knowing that this might be the last time to wait. The persistence of the city is not only the protection of the land, but also the persistence of faith, which has become almost all of their lives.
At the same time, some scholars chose to take refuge in the Qing Dynasty. In the whirlpool of this era, they may be out of survival instinct, or they may be helpless to see the situation clearly. They shuttle between the court and the market, and their identities and positions are quietly changing in the face of new rulers. Their choices may bring them temporary stability, but in the context of these turbulent times, everything seems to be unknown.
However, more scholars, in the face of the grief of war and the destruction of the country and their families, chose to express their last loyalty with their lives. During these chaotic years, the fall of the city seemed to be commonplace. Every time the city gates are closed, it can be the edge of life and death. The scholars stood on the walls, their eyes full of fear but a deep concern for the fate of their country. When the banner of the enemy army is gradually revealed on the horizon, they know that it is the clarion call of life and death.
The cultural phenomenon of the Ming relics.
The fall of the Ming Dynasty, like the autumn wind sweeping away the leaves, ruthlessly changed the fate of countless scholars. Those scholars who once wrote poems and chapters for the Ming Dynasty can now only carry their loyalty and regret and turn into the "remnants" of history. In this group, Gu Yanwu, Huang Zongxi, Wang Fuzhi and others are particularly eye-catching.
Gu Yanwu, a silent but determined historian, studied history more devotedly after the fall of the Ming Dynasty, trying to find lessons and wisdom in it. "History is the best textbook. He often says this in his discussions with students, and his eyes are always looking through the long river of history to find answers to the future.
Huang Zongxi, on the other hand, was the sharpest critic of his time. In his view, the demise of the Ming Dynasty was not accidental, but a historical necessity. "The corruption of the government and the degeneration of scholars are the alarm bells of history. "In conversations with friends, he is always serious.
Wang Fuzhi is more immersed in his own thinking. He believes that the fall of the Ming Dynasty is not only a change of regime, but also a cultural rupture. "We need to re-examine our culture and find the lost roots. He said this to his students in a lecture.
These remnants are not only materially displaced, but also spiritually in search of their lost homeland. By writing history books and poems, they constantly retell the traditions of the remnants of history, trying to find their roots in words. In their writings, the history of the Ming Dynasty is no longer a simple chronological record, but a work full of emotions and thoughts.
During this period, the lives of the remnants were also full of peculiarities. Their daily life is not only reminiscing about the past, but also thinking about the future. In teahouses and academies, they gathered together to discuss the rise and fall of the country and recite poems that touched the time. Their dialogue is not only a reflection on history, but also a vision of the future.
The country is broken by mountains and rivers, and the city is deep in spring. At a tea party, a remnant recited the poem. The gloom and perseverance in the poem are exactly what they share.
Although we have lost our country, our culture and our spirit will never die. Another survivor replied affectionately.
Yes, we are the remnants, but our mission is to make this history forever remembered by future generations. The third survivor added.
These remnants are not only witnesses of history, but also inheritors of culture. Thanks to their efforts, the culture of the Ming Dynasty did not disappear with the fall of the empire, but continued and carried forward in a unique way.
* The suffering and criticism of the scholars.
In the Ming Dynasty, especially at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the atmosphere of society was filled with an indescribable tension and heaviness. This was not only because of the war and political turmoil, but also because the scholars of that era were in a special state of mind. They have a deep understanding and criticism of the political culture and scholar culture of the Ming Dynasty.
Wang Fuzhi, a profound thinker, made a unique analysis of the political environment of the time. In his view, the breeding of "anger" not only comes from the tyranny of imperial power, but also comes from the inner dissatisfaction and struggle of the scholars. This kind of "hostility" is not only manifested in political resistance and struggle, but also has a profound impact on culture and ideology. Wang Fuzhi believes that this kind of anger and excitement needs to be correctly guided and released, otherwise it will have a profound impact on society and culture.
Huang Zongxi, his anger was more directed at the contempt and oppression of scholars by the imperial power of the Ming Dynasty. In his writings, he bluntly criticized the emperor for treating scholars as "slaves", an expression that was very bold and direct at the time. Huang Zongxi's anger is not only dissatisfaction with his personal fate, but also worry and worry about the fate of the entire group of scholars.
The "hostility" of this era has been profoundly depicted and analyzed under the pen of Wang Fuzhi, Huang Zongxi and others. They have a clear understanding of the mental consequences of ** and try to change this situation through their own efforts. Although their strength is small, their brushstrokes are like sharp swords, pointing directly at the sore spot of the times.
Perseverance and bitterness in the midst of suffering.
In the Ming Dynasty, the salary was not rich, and it could even be said to be meager. But the scholars did not complain or be discouraged by this, but on the contrary, they regarded this poverty as an art of living and raised it to the level of morality. They believe that real scholars should be detached from material things and self-discipline with poverty, which is not only a tempering of themselves, but also a resistance to the outside world.
This kind of "bitter festival" is not only embodied in material life, but also in spiritual life. In the last years of the Ming Dynasty, there was social turmoil and panic, but the scholars were able to maintain a detached mentality. In their poems, they sang about the mountains and rivers, tasted tea and talked about the Tao, as if living in an isolated peach blossom paradise. In their writings, we can see the love for nature, the perception of life, and a realm beyond the world.
However, this "bitter" way of life is not something that everyone can understand and accept. At that time, some people also criticized this way of life of the scholars as a kind of hypocrisy and an escape from reality. But the scholars did not care about these criticisms, they were more focused on their inner cultivation, and pursued a kind of spiritual freedom and transcendence.
Driven by such an attitude towards life, the scholars showed amazing tenacity and resilience in the face of hardships and hardships. In the face of poverty, they are not optimistic; In the face of adversity, perseverance is not lost. In an environment of social turmoil and unstable people's hearts, they have become a unique landscape.
Especially for those remnants of the late Ming Dynasty, their "bitter festival" is more of a reflection on the times. Through their way of life, they have shown the world a different set of values and attitudes towards life. Their existence is not only a criticism of that era, but also a revelation to future generations.
Persistence and reflection: the spiritual pursuit of the late Ming scholars.
At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the world was in turmoil, wars raged, and the society fell into an unprecedented predicament. In this context, Zhang Xun and Xu Yuan, who were guarding Suiyang, faced extremely severe challenges. The city was besieged, food and grass were cut off, and living conditions were extremely difficult. In this desperate environment, there is even a tragedy of cannibalism, which is the sorrow of human nature and the sorrow of the times.
In such an environment, the spiritual world of the scholars is extraordinarily clear. Despite the chaos of the outside world, their inner pursuit of ideal politics and personality has become more and more intense. They are not willing to give in to **, and they are even less willing to see the loss of humanity. In this context, Wang Fuzhi's thoughts are particularly important.
Wang Fuzhi emphasized Mencius's line of thought, believing that cannibalism is "inevitable", which is not only an affirmation of human nature, but also a maintenance of the bottom line of morality. In those chaotic times, such voices were particularly precious. Wang Fuzhi was not only criticizing the social status quo at that time, but also pointing out a way out for the society.
He put forward the concept of "neutralization" and "bustling and easy", hoping to solve the problems of the times by restoring social harmony and order. He called on people to "be rich and renewal", that is, to constantly renew themselves and reinvent themselves, as a way to combat the deformities and pathologies of the times. These ideas were undoubtedly a good medicine at the time, and brought a glimmer of hope to those chaotic times.
Under the guidance of such thinking, the spiritual world of the scholars has been greatly improved. They are no longer satisfied with the improvement of their material lives, but also pursue the sublimation of the spiritual world. They kept a clear head in a difficult environment and held fast to their ideals and beliefs. This perseverance is not only a struggle against the fate of the individual, but also a struggle against the entire era.
The spiritual pursuits of these scholars injected great spiritual strength into that turbulent era. Their presence, like a ray of light in the darkness, illuminates the way forward. Their thoughts and actions have left a legacy for future generations. In the long river of history, their figures shine brightly and become immortal memories.
History of the Ming Dynasty