First of all, briefly introduce Tan Caigen.
Caigen Tan is a Confucian classic compiled by Taoist Hong Yingming in the early Ming Dynasty. It is also a collection of quotations about self-cultivation, life, socialization and birth.
In this book, Hong Yingming believes that the original state of the heart is quiet and clear, but with the gratitude of qi, the heart will be covered by material desires and knowledge, both of which belong to people's selfish desires. If you want to return your body and mind to the original quiet and clear state, you must break the cover of selfish desires and exercise real-time self-restraint.
Second, the historical background
Politically, in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, the society was in a period of prosperity and decline, and the society was dark and corrupt. Moreover, due to the depravity and incompetence of the dynasty at that time, the ruling and opposition parties were in chaos, forcing many literati to embark on the road of seclusion, so a large number of works expressing seclusion feelings appeared in this period.
The tone of these works is nothing more than desolation, detachment or lamentation. Therefore, "Caigen Tan" must also have these keynote. In terms of social culture, since the Ming Dynasty, almost all the scholar-officials have been influenced by the theory of mind.
Although these thoughts are wrapped in the cloak of metaphysics, they have a strong people-oriented color, and Hong Yingming is also influenced by this style of study, so it is naturally reflected in Caigen Tan.
Thought of works
First, return to nature.
Caigen Tan said: "Only by blocking the road of material desire can we open the door to morality." Only by blocking material desires can we be calm, let our feelings not be extreme, and finally open the door to truth and morality. This maxim emphasizes the importance of calming desires on the road of learning.
It is also mentioned in the exhortation: "It can be seen that it is the root of trouble. If you want to be a medium of scattered ambition, you should not do nothing and sweep it away." Fame and desire are obstacles in the learning process, so we need to try our best to calm our desires, cultivate our minds and avoid falling into the abyss under their control. This view is consistent with Taoist thought.
Taoism's "transcendence of consciousness" advocates that people transcend secular utilitarianism, thus purifying their souls, returning to nature, and not being tired of foreign things.
Second, indifferent to fame and fortune.
Hong Yingming put forward: "Beyond heaven and earth, do not seek fame and fortune. He is rich and benevolent, and he is loyal to me. A gentleman is not trapped by a gentleman. "
A true gentleman will never be tied up and bought by a high official. Even if others are pursuing wealth and nobility, a gentleman should stick to righteousness. Only by not seeking fame and fortune can we not be confused by foreign things and fooled by fate.