The true meaning of “investigating things to gain knowledge” (Part 1)

Those who have read "The Great Learning" know that "The Great Learning" contains two parts: scriptures and biographies. Zhu Xi summarized the contents of the scriptures into the "Three Programs" and "Eight Items".

The "Three Programs" are "Ming Ming Morality", "Being Close to the People", and "Aiming at the Perfection"; the "Eight Points" are "Searching for Things", "Extending Knowledge", "Sincerity", "Rectifying the Mind", "Cultivating the Person" and "Living the Family".

", "ruling the country", "pacifying the world".

Behind the scriptures comes the biography, which is the interpretation and development of the scriptures by post-Confucian scholars.

Zhu Xi believed that the author of the biography was Zeng Zi.

It should be said that the interpretation and development of the text may not completely conform to the original meaning of the text, but it is still very helpful for readers to understand the text.

Due to the profoundness of its thoughts, the biography itself has become a part of the classics.

However, readers who are a little more careful will find that the eight items in the original text of "The Great Learning" include "sincerity," "rectifying one's mind," and "cultivating oneself," as well as the following items, "ordering the family," "ruling the country," and "pacifying the world."

The two most important ones at the top, namely "investigating things" and "promoting knowledge", were not transmitted.

The biography that people see today was supplemented by the Song Dynasty scholar Zhu Xi when he was writing the "Collected Commentary on the Four Books".

Some people may ask, why is it said that "investigating things" and "zhizhi" are the "two most important things"?

If you read the scripture carefully, you will understand: In ancient times, those who wanted to show virtue to the world first governed their country.

If you want to rule your country, you must first rule your country.

If you want to improve your family, you must first cultivate your body.

If you want to cultivate your body, you must first rectify your mind.

If you want to correct your heart, you must first be sincere.

If you want to be sincere in what you mean, you must first know the truth; knowing things lies in investigating things.

After observing things, one will know, and after knowing one's mind, one will be sincere, one's mind will be sincere, then one's heart will be upright, one's heart will be right, then one's body will be cultivated, one's body will be cultivated, and then the family will be in order, and the family will be in order, and then the country will be governed, and the country will be governed, and then the world will be peaceful.

It is clearly told here that the outer king is based on the inner sage. Only after he cultivates his moral character can he manage his family and rule the country and bring peace to the world;

In order to cultivate one's self, one must have a sincere mind, but to be sincere and upright, the fundamental thing is to study things and gain knowledge.

The importance of studying things to achieve knowledge, or the author's emphasis on studying things to achieve knowledge, can be said to be more prominent.

That’s why we say that “investigating things” and “developing knowledge” are the “two most important things.”

But it is precisely these "two most important items" that there is no document, no relevant explanation or discussion, while the other items are not included at all.

Why is this so?

Some people speculate that the reason why "Investigating Things to Learn" has not been passed down may be due to the cut-off.

Ancient books were composed of pieces of bamboo slips. During the process of circulation, once the rope running through the bamboo slips was broken, the bamboo slips were scattered and lost, and some words were lost.

This is the so-called "breaking simplicity".

But this kind of speculation cannot explain our question above, which is why the two most important ones were lost and not others?

I believe that the theory of "cutting off simplicity" is most likely just a conjecture and is inconsistent with reality.

The actual situation should be that "investigating things to achieve knowledge" has no text or explanation.

The reason is two words: confidentiality.

The reason why I say this is based on a basic understanding of traditional culture.

The reason why traditional culture is called traditional culture is that it has been passed down from ancient times. After a long history, it has been carefully protected and inherited by generations of people to continue to exist, thus becoming the cultural wealth of a nation.

How is this inheritance achieved?

Why can some traditional cultures travel through time and space and endure for thousands of years?

What's the reason?

I think it can be explained by three laws: The first law is called "the law of need".

We know that for a product to be popular among people, it must first meet certain needs of people and help people solve certain problems. Once it loses this function, people will no longer need it, and it will "end its life."

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The same is true for a technology, such as the skill of replenishing pots and bowls passed down from the past. Now no one needs it anymore, so it will naturally disappear.

Different forms of culture are no exception.

The second law is called the "law of potential energy".

For example, why do the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers have such a long history?

Because they originate from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and flow down from west to east from such a high altitude, they have strong potential energy, so they are rolling and unstoppable.

It's like a water delivery system. It has a very high water tower or a large enough pressure, so it can send water to distant places and high places.

Similarly, those cultures that can be passed down for a long time must have strong potential energy.

For example, China's three religions, Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, have been very influential since ancient times. An important reason is that they started from a very high level. The founders of the three religions are all top representatives of mankind. Their wisdom and morality are far beyond the

Beyond the ordinary people, they can be admired by countless people from generation to generation, so their teachings will naturally spread for a long time.

But these two alone are not enough. The reason why the thoughts and scholarship of the ancient saints, especially their orthodoxy, can be passed down and benefit future generations must have a channel and a realistic system.

Let’s compare the water delivery system again. If we want to transport water from a certain water source to a distant place, besides the water source must be high enough and the pressure must be high enough, what else is needed?

There must be reasonably laid pipes, and the pipes must be well connected to prevent water from leaking and flowing everywhere. Otherwise, the water will be wasted and people far away will not be able to use it.

Similarly, if high-level culture and wisdom are to be passed on for a long time, there must be a corresponding inheritance system. Once the system fails and the inheritance is cut off, this culture will become rigid and brain-dead.

We call this law "the law of pipes."