The Way of the Great Learning, in illuminating virtue, originates from the 'Great Learning', one of the Four Books of antiquity.
This essay is a guide to cultivating the self, and at its heart lies the principle of moral governance.
Thus it begins:
"The way of the Great Learning lies in making bright virtue shine, in renewing the people, and in resting in the highest good. Only by knowing where to stop can one find stability; with stability comes tranquility, with tranquility comes peace, with peace comes deliberation, and with deliberation comes attainment. All things have their roots and branches, all affairs have their beginning and end. To know what comes first and what follows is to draw near to the Way.
In ancient times, those who wished to make their virtue shine throughout the world would first govern their own states. To govern their states, they would first regulate their families. To regulate their families, they would first cultivate themselves. To cultivate themselves, they would first rectify their hearts. To rectify their hearts, they would first make their intentions sincere. To make their intentions sincere, they would first extend their knowledge. The extension of knowledge lies in the investigation of things. When things are investigated, knowledge becomes complete. When knowledge is complete, intentions become sincere. When intentions are sincere, hearts are rectified. When hearts are rectified, the self is cultivated. When the self is cultivated, the family is regulated. When the family is regulated, the state is well governed. When the state is well governed, peace prevails under Heaven."
Though scholars and experts make valid points, there is nothing inherently wrong with exam-oriented education, which naturally involves examinations; for a school, education should never be 'just' about exams. Once a school evaluates students on their grasp of foundational knowledge, it should go further and teach them how to be decent human beings, to cultivate character and self-discipline.
At the core of such self-cultivation lies virtue.
The Way of the Great Learning is a profoundly insightful essay that stresses, above all, the importance of moral virtue.
Huang Yifan didn't recite the entire 'Great Learning', only its first two paragraphs.
These are the most iconic sections of the text, and the most widely circulated in his previous life. They encapsulate the ideal of "cultivating the self, regulating the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world."
It is the very cornerstone of Confucian thought: the doctrine of inner cultivation and outer governance.
"Investigating things, extending knowledge, making intentions sincere, and rectifying the heart" belong to the inner path, focusing on self-cultivation.
"Regulating the family, governing the state, bringing peace to the world", these pertain to the outer path, the conduct of a noble person, and the administration of governance.
The highest state a noble person can reach is that of inner cultivation and outer governance.
Thus, by quoting the 'Great Learning', Huang Yifan wished to tell every student across Huaguo that while learning is important, cultivating virtue is just as essential. And at the end of the essay, he further emphasized: even though Huaguo is governed by law, it must also be governed by virtue, once again underscoring the vital role of moral character.
Over the course of more than an hour, Huang Yifan finished writing this essay, 'The Way of the Great Learning'.
He handed the manuscript to Sun Zaian.
Sun Zaian took it, and after reading just the first sentence, froze on the spot.
If Huang Yifan's earlier piece, "My Life Is Finite," had left him shocked, then this essay utterly robbed him of the will to critique.
Not because he didn't want to.
But because he didn't dare to.
Because he was afraid to.
Because he no longer knew how.
"What do you think of this draft?" Huang Yifan asked, unsure whether such an essay, with its heavy use of classical Chinese, would truly capture readers' attention. After all, not everyone was educated enough to decipher the 'Great Learning', let alone draw inspiration from it. Uncertain, he sought feedback.
"Mr. Fanchen, I don't dare make any judgment. I'll publish it immediately."
"Alright."
Huang Yifan nodded in agreement, while Sun Zaian eagerly printed the manuscript, barely able to contain his excitement.
Holding back the surge of emotion in his chest, Sun Zaian could already envision it: this essay, 'The Way of the Great Learning', was about to stir up a storm across the nation.
...
Huangshi High School.
"Mr. Qiu, your article in Youth Daily really brought honor to us teachers."
In the office of the Senior Year Division at Huaguo's prestigious Huangshi High School, the head teacher offered glowing praise to Qiu Enze.
"Not at all, sir, you're too kind. Honestly, that author named Qiushui also wrote something quite profound. Especially that line, 'My life is finite', is very philosophical. If not for the cause of education, I might've fully supported him."
"Ha! Mr. Qiu, sure, that guy writes well, but writing alone won't feed you. If he can't see the big picture, even the best writing is useless. He only saw the flaws in exam-oriented education but failed to understand the system correctly."
"Exactly, Mr. Qiu is the real deal. Not only does he write well, but he's also insightful."
"With Mr. Qiu stepping in, I think the exam-oriented education debate in Youth Daily is finished."
"I agree."
Qiu Enze was a star educator at Huangshi High, a nationally renowned teacher, and the other staff in the office were quick to flatter him.
"By the way, doesn't our school subscribe to Youth Daily? Let's see what today's issue says."
A teacher pulled out the freshly delivered paper, turned to the front page with high hopes that the education debate had finally reached its conclusion, only to see the headline article titled 'The Way of the Great Learning'.
"Mr. Qiu, that guy named Qiushui wrote another piece."
"What? He's still not giving up?"
"What does he have to say this time?"
"Mr. Li, read it out loud so we can all hear. I want to see how he's going to spin it now."
"Good idea."
"Alright, I'll read."
Mr. Li unfolded the paper and began.
"The article is titled 'The Way of the Great Learning'."
He hadn't even begun reading when the teachers in the room started commenting.
"The Way of the Great Learning? What an over-the-top title."
"Does he think only college-level education matters, and the rest of us are just elementary school?"
"He'd better hope the content lives up to the name, or he'll embarrass himself."
"Mr. Li, keep reading."
"Exam-oriented education isn't inherently wrong; tests are necessary. But a school's role shouldn't be limited to preparing students for exams. Once students have mastered the basics, schools should teach them how to be decent people and how to cultivate themselves..."
After reading just a few lines, the teachers started chiming in again.
"Teaching students how to be good people? Isn't that what we do every day?"
"Self-cultivation? Sounds so vague. Are we supposed to teach spiritual enlightenment now?"
"I used to think this guy's writing was alright, but this is getting worse."
"Yeah, this is nonsense. I don't even get what he's saying."
"Well, sure, he makes a good point, but it's all so abstract."
But in the midst of all this, Qiu Enze listened quietly, not saying a word. After the first paragraph, he nodded. "Keep reading."
Mr. Li continued, "The way of the Great Learning lies in making bright virtue shine, in renewing the people, and in resting in the highest good. Only by knowing where to stop can one find stability..."
He had barely begun before the office fell silent.
None of the teachers knew why. Maybe they hadn't fully understood the text.
Yet as they listened, even with just a rough sense of its meaning, they were struck.
It felt like reading the works of the ancient sage Zengzi.
But they knew this wasn't written by Zengzi.
The one most affected was top teacher Qiu Enze.
He suddenly stood up.
"Mr. Li, give that to me."
He snatched the paper and stared at the headline essay.
'The Way of the Great Learning.'
"To govern their states, they would first regulate their families. To regulate their families, they would first cultivate themselves. To cultivate themselves, they would first rectify their hearts. To rectify their hearts, they would first make their intentions sincere. To make their intentions sincere, they would first extend their knowledge..."
Reading that, Qiu Enze stood frozen.
He murmured, "The Way of the Great Learning, the Way of the Great Learning..."
"So this man named Qiushui... this is what he meant by true education, the Great Learning, the learning of the greats."
"And what I once took pride in... turns out to be mere elementary learning."
==========
Unlock up to 50 advanced chapters on Patreon!
patreon.com/Childish_Patriarch