鐔津文集 13.29

13.29

Reading the collected works of Donggaozi, Wang Ji, one learns that the Wang family indeed continued Confucius's Six Classics, and that Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Li Jing, Dong Chang, Wen Yanbo, Wei Zheng, Xue Shou, Du Yan, and others were indeed Wenzhongzi's disciples. Reading the biography of Wang Bo in Liu Xu's Old Book of Tang, one learns that Wenzhongzi was Bo's grandfather and had indeed composed the Yuanjing. Wang Ji died in the eighteenth year of the Zhenguan reign; being close in time to his elder brother, he was able to recount his deeds. Regrettably, Fang, Du, Wen, Wei, and Wang Bo did not write a single word to transmit Wenzhongzi's worthiness, and the Book of Sui again omitted any record of him; thus later generations considered Wenzhongzi's deeds untrustworthy. When Master Han's writings arose, scholars throughout the realm took Han as their master; and because Han Yu did not praise Wenzhongzi, while Li Ao moreover disparaged his book, comparing it to Duke Tai's Family Instructions, scholars consequently rejected Wenzhongzi. Yet if the Wang clan was able to continue Confucius's Six Classics, he was surely second only to Confucius. Discerning persons ought to examine and correct this by means of the Way of the sages. If Wenzhongzi's Way accords with Confucius, then he is an heir to Confucius; the presence or absence of historical records is insufficient to rely on. Can one simply follow people's likes and dislikes in seeking to obliterate this sage and worthy? Did not Meng Ke say, 'To believe all of the Book of Documents is worse than to have no Book of Documents'? When I look at the Zhongshuo, its reading of the Odes speaks of the 'four names and five intents,' and its reading of the Documents speaks of the 'four regulations and seven ordinances.' The Yuanjing states that the Jin, Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen each lacked these five and thereby brought disaster upon their states, and it praises the establishment of their laws. It possesses the Way of the sages! Alas, not seeing his Six Classics, I provisionally write this to leave to students.