Carefree Prince In Tang Dynasty

"This is 'comma', which is used inside a sentence to indicate that a sentence is not yet complete, but there is a pause here to indicate separation. This is 'period'."

"Signifies the end of a sentence?"

"That's right."

"What about this one?"

"This is a colon, used to lead out what to say later, generally used to express."

Thus, Li Xin and Fang Xuanling chatted about the meaning and usage of punctuation marks in the living room. Fang Xuanling really deserves to be a master of literature and Taoism who has been steeped in Confucianism and Taoism for many years. Many punctuation marks do not need to be explained by Li Xin, and he has almost comprehended them by guessing. Li Xin's explanation is only to give a clearer definition.

After explaining all the punctuation marks that appeared throughout the manuscript, Fang Xuanling said with emotion: "It would be great if we had these symbols earlier, and how many arguments and arguments could be saved."

Indeed, since there are no punctuation marks in ancient books, how to break up and understand many sentences has become an unsolved problem. The public says that the public is right, and the mother-in-law says that the mother-in-law is right. The scariest thing is that, out of different motives, many people try to lead these sentences to the direction of interpretation they need, so as to achieve their own special political goals.

For example, a politician who advocates ignorant rule of the people is very likely to deliberately interpret the ten words "the people can make them but not know them" as "the people can make them do it, but they can't make them know it." In this way, the meaning of this sentence becomes: You can let the people follow the path we guide, and there is no need for them to know why. Confucius naturally became the spokesperson of the ignorant politics.

Another way of saying is "If the people can do it, let them know it; if they can't, let them know it." It means: if the people have mastered poetry, rites and music, then let them play freely; if the people have not mastered it, then (we) have to educate them and let them know and understand these things. Just changing the position of the punctuation mark can make a huge shift in the meaning of the entire sentence. Mr. Confucius suddenly changed from a spokesman for ignorant politics to a model for educating all people.

As for Mr. Kong Zhongni's original intention? No one knows, and no one really cares.

Every year, countless Confucian scholars and great masters from various aristocratic families argue frantically over similar issues, and they insist on their own opinions and cannot reach a consensus. If there had been such a thing as punctuation marks in the world as early as the time when the disciples of Confucius wrote the Analects, how much fewer such debates would have occurred.

Li Xin smiled and said, "It's not too late now."

"Yes." Fang Xuanling is worthy of being an important minister who once fought with Li Shimin, and he has a pride that no one else has. Leave countless valuable knowledge and experience to future generations. His Royal Highness, why don't you write an article and introduce it to the world?"

Li Xin said with a wry smile: "Master Fang, don't make fun of this junior. With this little pen and ink in this junior's stomach, writing articles may make people die of laughter."

"Your Highness is too self-effacing. Your "Teacher's Talk", I can still be a reporter. The text is simple and plain, but it is a rare masterpiece." Fang Xuanling sincerely praised.

Li Xin was speechless.

What else can he say? It can't be said that this article was plagiarized by him. He actually doesn't know how to write any articles, right?

"The juniors in the literary world are very soft-spoken, even if they write an article, no one pays attention to it." Fortunately, Li Xin reacted quickly and quickly found a way to respond from another angle, "If you really want to write this article, you have to do it like Mr. Fang It is only useful for seniors with status to write."

Fang Xuanling shook his head and said, "This is not very good. It is obviously your credit, but I write the article, and I am suspected of being greedy for credit."

"Master Fang, why bother to stick to such small details?" Li Xin hurriedly persuaded, "The most important thing is to promote punctuation as soon as possible!"

Fang Xuanling heard the words, pondered for a moment before saying: "Your Highness is right. How about this, the old man will explain in the article that this thing was invented by His Highness the King of Chu, and the old man just wrote it down for everyone to understand."

Li Xin actually wanted to say: It doesn’t matter if you directly say that you invented it, it’s even better to say that it’s better

The credit for inventing punctuation marks is great, but in fact there is not much actual benefit behind it, just an increase in reputation. As the saying goes, people are afraid of being famous and pigs are afraid of being strong. Li Xin doesn't want to improve his literary name too much. After all, apart from being a copywriter, he is really a mess in poetry and essays. Maybe someone will expose him one day. By the way The situation of being unable to come to the stage.

If he has never had a literary name and everyone treats him as a dude, then it's okay to say that no one will care too much. But if he became too famous in the literary world and was promoted to a high position, the same thing would have completely different results. Countless people will come up and step on him.

However, Li Xin also knew that it was not easy for someone like Fang Xuanling to pretend to be credited. They are in high positions, and they don't bother to be greedy for such small credits. He was willing to write this article only because he thought he genuinely appreciated punctuation.