Regarding the recent turbulent protests, countless people made generous statements. The following is the most touching live speech I have ever heard. Although it was only a minute or so, it made countless people cry. Overseas students, come on❗️
This time overseas students stood up and let us see the thoughts and strength of the new generation of elites. It is really the first time in a long time that we feel that this nation still has hope and future, and tears welled up in our eyes.
是非审之于己,毁誉听之于人,得失安之于数,陟岳麓峰头,朗月清风,太极悠然可会;
Right or wrong, examine it yourself. Ruin or acclaim comes from the decisions of others. Gains and losses are predestined - accept them with equanimity. Ascend to the peak of Yuelu. The moon is bright, the breeze refreshing. The Zenith may be met with, leisurely.
君亲恩何以酬,民物命何以立,圣贤道何以传,登赫曦台上,衡云湘水,斯文定有攸归。
How can we repay the kindness of our leaders and parents? How can the life of the people be firmly established? How can the way of the sages be transmitted? Climb atop Hexi Terrace. The clouds of Mt. Heng, the waters of River Xiang; for sure, the educated have responsibility.
This post is dedicated to @liberty-or-death who dug a hole for me on the last day of 2022. Thanks friend xD
(The reason I was excited to see this place mentioned in that article was because it’s on my travel wishlist.)
Background
Yuelu Mountain (岳麓山) is located on the west bank of the Xiang River at a tributary of the Wu River in Changsha, Hunan, and is noted for its many scenic spots. Located at its foot is the Yuelu Academy (岳麓书院), officially established in 796 CE during the rule of Emperor Taizu of Song. It is one of the four famous academies in ancient China - the others are the Bailudong, Songyang and Suiyang Academies. But among these academies of classical learning, Yuelu is the only one to have evolved into a modern institution. Today it is known as Hunan University.
The Hunan University campus, in their own words, combines ancient architectural complexes and modern facilities. Many of the original structures of Yuelu Academy were preserved, and now open to the public. Here’s a video of a walk through the school! (x)
If you don’t need english subs, there is a wonderful MangoTV documentary on Yuelu Academy available on youtube.
The academy was frequently renovated throughout its >1000 years of existence, and many of the current buildings were constructed during the Qing Dynasty. The main Lecture Hall, also called the ‘Hall of Loyalty, Filial Piety, Integrity and Chastity’, is a core building of the Academy. It is located at its heart, and was the most important place for teaching and momentous ceremonies.
A horizontal plaque with imperial inscriptions from the Kangxi Emperor hangs in the front of the hall. On the inner walls of the hall, there are four big Chinese Characters - I can’t really tell if they were engraved or painted - loyalty, piety, honesty and integrity (Simplified: 忠孝廉节 | Traditional: 忠孝廉節). They come from the hand of the great scholar Zhu Xi of the Song Dynasty. Zhu Xi along with Zhang Shi gave the first ever joint lecture in the history of Confucian academies in this place.
And it is within this Lecture Hall, placed on either side, between the words piety & integrity, and loyalty & honesty that these this yinglian (楹联), a type of couplet, is pasted on the walls on either side. It was written by Kuang Minben, who passed the entry level examination at the age of 24 and was recommended into the Imperial Academy the following year. During this time, his studies were interrupted by the death of his father and requisite period of mourning. He later passed the imperial exams at the age of 37 and joined the Hanlin academy as an apprentice writer, though had to retire for health reasons. 18 years later, at the age of 55, he was engaged as principal (山长) at Yuelu Academy in the year 1754. He went on to lecture there for three years before the death of his mother. It was during this period of his life that he wrote the couplet that now still hangs in the Lecture Hall.
Actually, the couplets that are there now are a copy carved in 1983 as the original was destroyed in the Sino-Japanese War.
Here’s a photo of the Lecture Hall from the academy’s Chinese wikipedia page.
From twitter user 徐昕 @xuxin1970
① 是非审之于己,毁誉听之于人,得失安之于数,陟岳麓峰头,朗月清风,太极悠然可会;
② 君亲恩何以酬,民物命何以立,圣贤道何以传,登赫曦台上,衡云湘水,斯文定有攸归
If for some reason, you’re wondering about the placement of the letters and the couplets…
Exit for the hall
廉 節
① ②
忠 孝
Head of the hall
This seems to follow the principle of seating on the North (head of the hall), facing the South (exit), and then the left (East) as superior to the right (West).
Brief Translation Notes
This was a rough translation as working on this couplet was a very spur of the moment. Here is how I understand it and maybe other interesting things.
For ①
On the rights and wrongs of a matter, one should examine (审) it inwardly with one’s own judgment [internal]. Whether one ends up ruined for it or acclaimed, that outcome lies with others [external]. And whatever one will gain or lose in this is up to the Heavens (数), and ought to be accepted with equanimity (not in our hands anymore, so be chill about it). Having done this, one steps out and up the mountain, finding that they have reached the utmost goal in becoming one with nature (太极).
You might have noticed the plaque with the inscription of 学达性天 above the hall in blue? That was mentioned before as being bestowed by a Qing Dynasty emperor. But this has also been the ultimate goal of Confucian and Chinese education for thousands of years. It’s a reference to both the Analects and Doctrine of the Mean; through learning to live properly as humans, we may reach our original heaven endowed nature and become one with nature, which is also being attuned to the Way of heaven. So, a maxim for educational goals in a lecture hall supported by the couplets also hanging in the same room. That’s the intention, and how do we reach it? By keeping at This.
When a person has reached that state of mind and state of being, even in the face of difficulty or problems regarding ethics, reputation, temptation and so on, they can face it unaffected and calm.
For ②
The earlier part was on an individual level. What someone can do for themselves. But in order for one to exist and be in such a position, they owe it to their ruler / their lord and then their parents for giving body and life. This half of the couplet pair is about responsibility. That a person who cares for the world around them will wonder how to make it a better place to live in, ensuring stability and that the good way of living is widely practiced and passed on. Go out to Hexi Terrace and look: the mountain is still beautiful, the river still flows. Certainly, the educated have a responsibility and their rightful place*.
*The word 攸归 comes from the idiom 责有攸归 (zé yǒu yōu guī) literally, responsibility has its rightful place ie. with the correct person.
Now’s the time to mention: It’s the furthest thing from easy that Yuelu Academy still stands today. You can read about its history in this article. The original Hexi Terrace too. The structure that exists today is, in fact, Hexi Terrace 3.0 and is not even in the original location anymore. It was originally at the peak of Mt. Yuelu, where Zhu Xi liked to climb to watch the sunrise (hence its name of sunrise splendor). Then war came, there was restoration work, a tower was built in its place (though the function of this location remained the same), and the terrace was rebuilt at the foot of the mountain in the form of a pavilion. Hexi 2.0 was destroyed in the Sino-Japanese War, and Hexi 3.0 is actually an existing stage that was renamed in memory of 1.0 and 2.0.
I am reminded actually of a song that goes ~ be your own light ~. That light should shine from within. Observe and contemplate, and at the same time cultivate yourself both in education (knowledge) and character. Be your own light, and next step… the world!