Consider: You know about the things that a educated person needs to
know. A country to be prosperous needs to have people who will serve it
and who know the historical records, so they know what was good and
what was bad in the past. They will know how to proceed in the future;
they will understand the things that must be avoided and promote those
things that need to be done. The key to serving the country is
understanding history.
The proper and reliable sources for learning history are the official
annals of the dynasties. These must be read and learned and you must
make them part of you, so that when you think about those times,
you can see them as though there yourself. And when you think
of events in the present world you should be able to see them along
with relevant situations from the past. This is what correct learning
will lead to.
From knowing the past you can understand the present with
personal awareness. This is a skill that can serve you well, no matter
what it is that you eventually do in your life.
Indeed:
139. If you
want to know history, read
the official annals.
140. Use the past to
learn about the
present, using the official records you will understand as if you had
personally observed.
Consider: The traditional way we have learned from all these
histories in China is through memorization and recitation. This is the
way I have been teaching you this classic. But mere memorization is of
no use, simple recitation does nothing. If you can only parrot
the classics, you cannot be said to be a scholar. The value to you
comes from thinking about what you are reciting. The
recitation provides a way for you to concentrate your thoughts on the
matter at hand. Think and recite at the same time.
For true learning you must work at your education every time,
everywhere. Saying that you will study all morning so you can play all
afternoon means that you will have all afternoon to forget what you
learned in the morning. The more you know, the more you have to work to
retain what you already know as well as to further your understanding
by acquiring new knowledge.
Consider: You may think that the task is too much for you, that there
is too much to learn, that you cannot become educated as we have
discussed. The classic provides you now with several examples to show
you that no matter how challenging the task is, you
can indeed meet the challenge.
Do not think that there is an end to study, that studying is something
you do for a time and then go on to other work. Even the greatest of
the ancient sages, Confucius,
continued learning even when he was grown up.
Confucius' family name was Kong, and was called Zhong Ni, Zhong because
he was the second child of his mother, and Ni because she had prayed
for a son at a shrine at a place called Mount Ni. After Zhong Ni's
wisdom and learning were widely understood and appreciated, he was
called Kong Fu Zi, or Master Kong. This name was changed by scholars in
the West to Confucius.
It is known that during his travels Master Kong met a young boy named Xiang
Tuo. Xiang Tuo is said to have been only seven years old at
the time, but Master Kong perceived that Xiang Tuo was possessed of
extreme intelligence, and remarked to his followers who were
accompanying him that he certainly had much to learn form this child.
Even as an adult, the acknowledged Master understood that his education
was not complete and that it would benefit him to study for a while
with the young child. Can we in modern days do any
less than work diligently throughout our lives to continue our
education?
Indeed:
143. In the old
days, the
grown Confucius took a young boy as his teacher, . . .
144. . . .
the sages and
wise men of old studied throughout their lives.