"Primary school left a legacy, but I didn't see it clearly" is translated into modern Chinese as: small things have been studied with care, but the big important truth has been discarded, and I don't see his wisdom.
it's from Shi Shuo. Written in the 18th year of Tang Zhenyuan (AD 82), when Han Yu was a doctor of four schools, this article was written by Han Yu to his student Li Pan. Teacher's Theory is an essay explaining the important role of teachers, the necessity of learning from teachers and the principle of choosing teachers. This article criticizes the wrong idea that the "scholar-officials" at that time were ashamed to follow the teacher, and advocates the atmosphere of learning from the teacher. At the same time, it is also a public reply and a solemn refutation to those detractors. The author shows that anyone can be his own teacher, and he should not refuse to learn with an open mind because of his status or age difference. At the end of the article, Confucius' words and deeds testified that it has been a practice since ancient times to seek teachers and emphasize Taoism, and people should not abandon the ancient road.
people who studied in ancient times must have teachers. Teachers can (can) rely on to impart truth, teach studies and answer difficult questions. People are not born to understand the truth, who can have no doubts? Doubt, if you don't follow the teacher, those who become difficult problems will eventually be unable to understand. Born in front of me, he understood the truth earlier than me, so I (should) follow (him) and regard him as a teacher; Born behind me, (if) he knows the truth before me, I (should) follow (him) as a teacher. I'm learning from him. Who cares if he was born earlier or later than me? Therefore, regardless of status or age, the place where truth exists is the place where teachers exist.
Alas, the (ancient) fashion of learning from teachers has been out for a long time. It is not difficult to want people without doubt! Ancient saints, far beyond the average person, still followed the teacher and asked for advice; Nowadays, ordinary people are far below the saints, but they are ashamed to learn from their teachers. Therefore, saints are more wise, and fools are more foolish. The reason why saints can become saints and fools can become fools is probably because of this. (People) love their children, so they choose teachers to teach them. (But) for himself, it is shameful to follow the teachers. What a fool! Those children's teachers teach them to read and (help them) learn to break sentences, not what I said can teach those truths and answer those difficult questions. On the one hand, they are not familiar with sentence reading, and on the other hand, they can't solve doubts. Some (sentence reading) learn from teachers, while others (doubts) don't learn from teachers. I have to learn from the small aspects, but give up (not learn) from the big ones. I don't see that kind of person is wise. Witch doctors, musicians and craftsmen are not ashamed to learn from each other. Scholar-officials, who call "teachers" and "disciples", gather in groups to laugh at others. Ask them (why they laugh) and say, "He is about the same age as him, and his moral knowledge is similar. He feels ashamed (because) he has a low position (because he is a teacher), and (because) he has a high position (because he is a teacher), which is almost flattering." Alas! It is clear (from these words) that the fashion of learning from teachers cannot be restored. Witch doctors, musicians and artisans are people that gentlemen disdain to mention, but now their knowledge is not as good as (these people). What a surprise!
a saint has no fixed teacher. Confucius had studied under Zanzi, Changhong, Shi Xiang and Lao Dan. These people are not as talented as Confucius. Confucius said, "If several people go together, there must be someone who can be my teacher." Therefore, students are not necessarily inferior to teachers, and teachers are not necessarily more talented than students. They have heard the truth early and late, and their knowledge and skills have their own specialties. That's all.
Pan, the Li family's child, is seventeen years old, and likes ancient Chinese. He has generally studied the scriptures and biographies of the Six Classics, and is not bound by the customs. He learns from me. I commend him for being able to follow the way of the ancients (learning from teachers) and write this "Teacher's Commentary" as a gift to him.