Chapter 20 The Complete Collection of Four Books and Five Classics
Su Ze was excited that this thick stack of books was the Complete Collection of Four Books and Five Classics.
This "Complete Collection of Four Books and Five Classics" is a set of imperial examination textbooks compiled by Hu Guang, a minister during the Chengzu period of the Ming Dynasty, under the orders of Emperor Yongle.
In other words, this set of books is the syllabus for the imperial examination, and the range of questions for the imperial examination is in this set of books.
However, this set of books is not just a few thin volumes, but a thick stack, because in addition to the Four Books and the Five Classics, this collection also contains "biographies" written by later great Confucians to explain the books and classics. and "note".
The Ming Dynasty regarded Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism as orthodox, so the imperial examinations also used Zhu Xi's biography and annotations.
Therefore, this set of books actually includes the Four Books ("The Great Learning", "The Doctrine of the Mean", "The Analects" and "Mencius"), the Five Classics ("The Book of Songs", "Shangshu", "Book of Rites", "Book of Changes" and "Spring and Autumn"), as well as Zhu Xi's annotations for the Four Books Zhu Xi's "Collected Annotations of Zhu Zi" and "Collected Biography of Zhu Zi" written by Zhu Xi for "Shangshu", "Book of Songs" and "Book of Changes".
Because Zhu Xi did not write annotations for the Spring and Autumn Annals and the Book of Rites, these two books used ancient annotations.
There are twelve sets of the "Complete Collection of Four Books and Five Classics", totaling 120 volumes. However, Su Ze flipped through it and found that there was a lot missing from the set of "Wei Xue".
The "Four Books" and the "Collected Annotations" are both complete sets, but only the "Book of Changes" and the "Collected Biography of the Book of Changes" are left in the Five Classics.
Su Ze recalled his knowledge of Ming history. The missing part may not have been lost, but the only book in this set was the I Ching.
The imperial examination system of the Ming Dynasty, unlike before, did not require proficiency in the Five Classics.
The "Four Books" is a compulsory subject that all candidates must study, while the "Five Classics" is an elective course. Candidates only need to choose one classic, instead of multiple electives like the imperial examination in the Song Dynasty.
In other words, the Five Classics are equal to five elective subjects for the college entrance examination. You only need to choose one to take the college entrance examination.
Since you choose one of five subjects, there are naturally popular and unpopular subjects.
Because Zhu Xi made commentaries on the "Book of Changes", "Shangshu" and "The Book of Songs", it means that these three exams have officially recognized teaching aids, so the most people study these three classics.
The two classics, "Book of Rites" and "Spring and Autumn", have the largest number of words among the Five Classics, and are the most difficult to recite.
Moreover, Zhu Xi did not compose a biography of these two classics, so when studying, candidates have to eliminate the parts in the ancient commentaries that contradict Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism. The difficulty of studying is not ordinary, so few scholars choose these two classics. Sutra as the main sutra.
It is obvious that Chang Ningwei's "Complete Collection of Four Books and Five Classics" was purchased by Wei Suo from his previous Mongolian studies teacher. Perhaps this Mongolian study teacher himself studied the "Book of Changes", so he did not ask Wei Suo to purchase other scriptures and annotations.
But this is surprising enough. This set of "The Complete Collection of Four Books and Five Classics" is an official printed textbook, which means it can only be printed and published by official organizations. The price of the complete set is hundreds of taels of silver!
Even if half of this set is missing, it is still worth dozens of taels of silver! This is equivalent to Su Ze's income from farming in Changningwei for ten years without eating or drinking!
From the price of this set of textbooks, we can see that the threshold for imperial examinations in the Ming Dynasty was very high. Some squire children from well-off families were unable to own such a set of books and had to rely on copying and studying by themselves.
Changningwei's ancestors are indeed richer than before!
Touching the official printed paper, this set of books is still intact after decades, which shows the care and attention given to it by successive owners.
For Su Ze, this was a huge profit.
Studying these scriptures is an important way to improve Gan's "Imperial Examination" skills. As long as you study well, you can improve your "Imperial Examination" level.
And the price he paid was just to be enlightened with five little carrot heads.
Changningwei is really my blessed place!
Aunt Ninth looked at Su Ze and saw the way he caressed the book. She was truly convinced that Su Ze was a serious scholar.
Aunt Ninth once again felt lucky that she had taken in Su Ze. Changning Guard, whose talents were declining day by day, needed talents like Su Ze.
However, from this period of contact, Aunt Ninth also knew that Su Ze was not an ordinary person.
Whether it was doing farm work or learning the craftsmanship of the family temple, Su Ze's learning speed was far beyond that of ordinary people in Changning Wei.
It was also the morning class every day, and Su Ze had already memorized the rituals of "setting the house", "moving the grave" and "making the boat" by heart, but Lin Cainiang still remembered the rituals of setting the house in confusion, and she couldn't even recite the mantras for praying for disaster. Uncle Lin Qishu also told himself that Su Ze's speed in clearing land was as fast as when he was young, and his efficiency in doing farm work was comparable to that of his son, whom he had taught for decades.
Even Lin Xianzong said that Su Ze was very talented at carpentry, much better than his elm-headed apprentices.
Sure enough, this is a learned person! Learn anything faster than others! Do everything better than others!
Aunt Ninth also felt a sense of loss. People like Su Ze were definitely not a thing in the pool. Sooner or later, they would leave Changning Guard.
These days, an adult man who is in good health and can work quickly is in demand.
Not to mention that Su Ze is still a scholar.
Aunt Ninth had other thoughts. If Su Ze got married, wouldn't she be able to keep him in Changning Guard?
Even if Su Ze becomes rich in a few days, he is also Chang Ning Wei's uncle, and he will definitely not leave Chang Ning Wei alone.
Aunt Ninth's mind suddenly opened up. There were many female relatives in Changning Wei, but not many were worthy of Su Ze.
A beautiful image flashed in Aunt Ninth's mind, but she quickly shook her head. It was a pity that she would not be able to get married in the next few years, and in a few years, Su Ze's children would all be married.
Aunt Ninth sighed again, lamenting that the death of Baihu in the battle was too sudden, and it was really hard on the child.
After cleaning the school and placing the desks neatly, Su Ze put the little carrots back and let them officially start class tomorrow.
Aunt Ninth also took Lin Cainiang back to make dinner. Su Ze waited until everyone left the Wei School before taking out a file bag from a corner.
Opening the file bag, what was inside was the Changningwei genealogy given to him by his seventh uncle before he traveled through time.
This genealogy was revised by the descendants of Changningwei during the Republic of China. Su Ze pasted the cover so that Changningwei’s grandfather could not tell that this was their precious genealogy.
Some time ago, he was farming every day. When it got dark, the incense and candles in the family temple were dedicated to the Third Master Tai Empress in the main hall. Su Ze did not dare to read the Changningwei genealogy in the main hall.
After studying it on and off for a few days, History is still a pitiful "Lv4, 5/400".
Now in the School of Health, Su Ze can boldly study this genealogy.
He gently opened the family tree, skipped the record of the ancestors of Chang Ningwei, and turned directly to the part of the seventh generation ancestor.
Looking through the record of the return of the Seventh Generation Ancestor's Spiny Dragon from the Sea, Su Ze saw such a record.
"On the 17th day of the fifth lunar month, the Imperial Censor Yan inspected the guards. The county clerk Xu Shisheng criticized the Seventh Patriarch, and the Censor temporarily dismissed the Seventh Patriarch from his military position. The Guards gave 500 taels of filial piety silver, and the Seventh Patriarch was reinstated. Getting tired."
Su Ze touched his chin. The meaning of this record was that the official of Baihu in Changning Guard was caught in a shortcoming by the censor and extorted five hundred taels of silver before the official of Baihu was reinstated.
This incident was the beginning of further decline for Changningwei, which was already very poor.
But what exactly is the money extorted from? Could it be that Baihu's identity as a woman was discovered?
Impossible, it is absolutely impossible to just extort five hundred taels of silver and settle the matter. Based on Su Ze's understanding of the integrity of the censor in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, using his daughter as a military official, such a big case would definitely not be possible for a censor who pursues fame. I won't let it go, and it will definitely become a major case that will shock the whole country.
Since the secret of the seventh generation ancestor's daughter's birth has not been revealed, what disaster happened to Changning Wei?
This one has not been tested yet and is being saved.
Will add more updates after they are recommended! Believe me!
(End of chapter)